Sunteți pe pagina 1din 28

The

~
Dys•lex´•ic Read´•er
VOL. 49 Davis Dyslexia Association International ISSUE 3 • 2008

Underachiever, and I saw this as a


The Fabulous, Famous great opportunity to meet a man who
has gone above and beyond with
Dyslexic, Henry Winkler respect to shining light on dyslexia -
both its realities/difficulties and its
By Karen LoGiudice, Davis Facilitator gifts/talents. Based on the wonderful
in Newburyport, MA character, Hank Zipzer, a 4th grade boy
other’s Day, 2008 with dyslexia, Winkler’s 14-strong

M will go down in my books series of chapter books are mostly


as one really cool day! autobiographical.
Ironically, I was not with Having arrived at the
my children. Instead, I was in Andover, function an hour and a half
Massachusetts at a book signing with early, I was excited to be right
Henry Winkler (a.k.a. The Fonz from at the front of the line. People
Happy Days). For those of you who started assembling and the buzz
didn’t realize, he is also a best-selling of excitement was growing. In
author and among the ranks of many one way or another, Henry
other extremely talented, famous Winkler had touched the life of
dyslexics. each person in line... either with
I really didn’t know what to his acting, producing, writing, or
expect, but I am a huge fan of Mr. some other experience!
Winkler’s best-selling book series, As people around me were
(Cont’d on p. 6)
Hank Zipzer - The World’s Greatest
IN THIS ISSUE
News & Feature Articles Michael’s Great Day
The Fabulous, Famous Dyslexic, By Jean Moser, Davis Facilitator in
Henry Winkler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Michael’s Great Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Jean sent us this story on June 7, 2008,
Note Proficiency, Part 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
shortly before her son, Michael, graduated
Undiagnosed Teenager with Dyslexia . . . .8 from high school.
Understanding My Gift . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Steve Mock Thinks Outside the Box . . . .13 My son, Michael, is graduating from
Finding the Right Niche . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 high school tomorrow. He’s not alone–
bAd Boy Makes Good . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 there are thousands of young men and
Beginning of the End of Reading First . . .19 women in our community who will walk
La Fidelidad de Uchi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 up the aisle, get their diploma,
and then throw their caps in the
Regular Features air. There will be thousands of
In the Mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 celebrations throughout the city
Quotables from Notables . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 as each family enjoys the
Famous Dyslexics Remember . . . . . . . . . .9 beginning of their child’s new
Book Reviews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 stage of life. But my son has a
Humor Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 special story.
Q&A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17-18 When Michael was five years
New Davis Licensees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 old, he flunked kindergarten. We Michael Moser, just graduated, is on his
Davis Workshops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26-28 brought him home for school and gave way to Wingate University on a soccer
him a year to relax. But things didn’t get scholarship.
(Cont’d on p. 5)
PAGE 2 THE DYSLEXIC READER

In the Mail:
clothes and calling them art. but when i
saw the program “the gift of dyslexia” it
gave me confidence to be what i want
I learned to read at age 10 to be (a cosmologist) and helped me
hello, my name is sadie i am 13 i live in understand my self and what was
the uk and i am dyslexic. i learnt how to hapaning in my brain, i want to say
read when i was 10, by pointing to a word, thank you for all that your Association
asking what it means, then memorising has done for people like us!! and i have
the serise of letters in till i had a recormended your books to many people!
headache. to this day i have problems and i will continue to do so!
spelling or reading out loud, i also talk from sadie p. hambleton other kids do. Tutoring made no
to fast or confuse words such as : to, difference and her fear and dislike for
two and too or write words with the Our Chloe’s doing great! the subject grew.
letters gummbled round such as my We want to share our 10 year-old Chloe After assessment in Singapore,
name i would some times spell it: ideas Nadine’s success with Davis Facilitator, where Ms. Chua convinced Chloe that
or aside. i am good at art, maths and Constance Chua of Singapore. doing Math the Davis way is fun and easy,
science and used to think i was stupid or Math was always a problem for she did a Davis program last April.
strange and i was bullyed at school for Chloe. I got frustrated and she was often Immediately after the program we
being dyslexic or wareing flamboyant in tears unable to relate to numbers as noticed that Chloe was calmer and more
confident. To our amazement she scored
Copyright 2002 Randy Glasbergen. www.glasbergen.com
80% in her first test a few weeks later!
She continues to progress and her
average is now 90%. When we ask how
she does “Davis” she can’t explain, but
says, “I just know it.” Our younger
daughter, gifted in math, is nervous that
Chloe may become her match!
Chloe has blossomed in confidence
and responsibility. God bless Mr. Davis! We
are deeply grateful to him for making the
program available throughout the world.
We’d also like to express our sincerest
appreciation to Ms. Constance Chua for
her patience, continued guidance and
encouragement to Chloe. We will always
be grateful to her.
Yours truly,
Natalie L. Tanchip
Manila, Philippines

The Dyslexic Reader is published quarterly by Davis Dyslexia Association International (DDAI), 1601 Bayshore Hwy.,
Suite 260, Burlingame, CA 94010 USA. Tel. +1 (650) 692-7141.
OUR GOALS are to increase worldwide awareness about the positive aspects of dyslexia and related learning styles;
and to present methods for improving literacy, education and academic success. We believe that all people’s abilities
and talents should be recognized and valued, and that learning problems can be corrected. EDITORIAL BOARD:
Laura Zink de Diaz, Alice Davis & Abigail Marshall. DESIGN: Gideon Kramer. SUBSCRIPTIONS: one year $25 in US,
add $5 in Canada; add $10 elsewhere. BACK ISSUES: send $8.00 to DDAI. SUBMISSIONS & LETTERS:
We welcome letters, comments and articles. Mail to DDAI at the above address. VIA FAX: +1 (650) 692-7075
VIA E-MAIL: editor@dyslexia.com INTERNET: www.dyslexia.com

The opinions and views expressed in articles and letters are not necessarily those of DDAI. Davis™, Dyslexia Correction®, Davis Symbol Mastery®, Davis
Orientation Counseling®, and Davis Learning Strategies® are trademarks of Ronald D. Davis. Copyright © 2006 by DDAI, unless otherwise noted.
All rights reserved.
THE DYSLEXIC READER PAGE 3

Note Proficiency, Part 1


By Geoffrey Keith

If a student takes home a piece of Example 2, the student would say,


music and practices the wrong notes “DDDD, DDDD, D hold D hold, D
and rhythms, he will have reinforced Rhythm is the secret to sight hold hold hold,” while playing the
the wrong information in his memory. reading, but there is a catch: notes on a steady pulse.
It is critical to have a way in order to play the right I tell the student that the h stands
to send the student home rhythm a person must be for the word hold, and that it is a
knowing that he will be able to find the notes.” placeholder for the extra beats in the
practicing the right notes longer notes. Notice that the holds line
with the right rhythms. out loud as he plays. This is a great up with the numbers in parenthesis
The student must be teaching tool; the only problem is from the line of numbers used for
playing the material that the student will say the notes, counting the rhythm. That is because
correctly before he but often not perform the rhythms as they both convey the same rhythmic
leaves the lesson and must have enough written. This means that he will have information in different ways. Each
material to practice all week long. to relearn the rhythm later. What we system provides all of the rhythmic
I once saw a J.S. Bach note holder need is a way to say the names of the “events” in the line, whether it is a
in a bookstore. In it was a note card notes out loud in the correct time. struck note or a held beat. The
with the words, “If you play the right It is easy to play and say the note extended counting provides all of
notes at the right time, the instrument names on measures of quarter notes on the beats, and all of the subdivisions
plays itself.” Now, I do not know if the note D. Each quarter note gets one if there are any, while providing a
Bach ever said this, but it does catch pulse per note. If we play and say the user-friendly guide to when to clap.
the essentials of playing music. Much note names on the same D on four Similarly, when a student says the
notes and the holds she is saying one
thing for each event in the line. For
rests I use an r (Example 3, at left).
Have the student say, “C rest D
Example 1: Holds and rests.
rest, E hold rest rest, rest rest rest rest,
E hold D hold, C hold hold hold,”
while playing. For dotted notes and
ties, just add the appropriate number
Example 2: Rhythm on the note D with a system of placeholders.
of holds and rests (see Example 4,
next page).
To say note names at the eighth
notes level of rhythm, simply cut
the hold in half. The hold is just a
placeholder and has no rhythmic
value itself. Cross out the second note
Example 3: Holds and rests. of a tied pair to remind the student
that she will not play on that note
of basic music reading is about playing quarter notes, two half notes, and a (Example 5).
the right notes at the right time. Rhythm whole note, the rhythm becomes Saying the interval and chord
is the secret to sight reading, but there harder. The student will have to feel the names can be valuable as well
is a catch: in order to play the right missing beats and not play on them. (Example 6).
rhythm a person must be able to find Dr. Christopher McGahn, one of It is easier to read intervals and


the notes. my teachers at U-Mass Lowell, used to chords if we chunk the notes together
say that nature hates a vacuum. In under one label. Intervals count the
other words, if there is a space in the distance between notes: a second is
It takes two to four years rhythm, we want to fill that space with two notes apart, a third is three, etc.
to get to the point where the something. The space in the rhythm can Triads are three note chords and are
student will no longer need
be filled with a system of placeholders. named for the bottom note (the root)
to say the note names.”
In Example 1 above, let’s write an h in of the chord. Unfortunately, things are
An often recommended strategy the space between the half notes and not that simple, because we can
in instrument method books is to have three h’s after the whole notes. change (or invert) the order of the
the student say the names of the notes When saying the note names for notes in a chord. Chord theory is one
PAGE 4 THE DYSLEXIC READER
the example for her. This forces her to
read the notation. If you play the
example for her first, she may skip
over the process of reading altogether.
Example 4: Holds with ties and dotted Notes
Concert pianist Charles Rosen
relates this piece of advice: “Small
children with a gift for music
commonly have an amazing memory.
There are many stories of children
Example 5: Holds and rests at the eighth note level. who when starting piano lessons were
thought to be able to read music, but
had not in fact acquired the skill: they
had heard the teacher play a piece
through once and could repeat it
without mistake. Piano teachers have
Example 6: Intervals and triads. had to learn not to play a new piece
for the more talented beginner”
(Rosen, p. 90). It is not so much if you
should play for the student, but rather
when you should play, which is always
after he has attempted to read the
piece. I have had helpful parents who
have played the pieces for their child,
Example 7: Combining hands. without my knowledge, not realizing
that they were short circuiting the
of the more complex aspects of process of learning how to read music.
music, and we cannot go into it Used consistently, holds and rests
in depth here. will help the student execute the rhythm
In theory, the holds will correctly while saying the note names
work at the level of the 16th out loud. In part two of the article we
note as well, but by the time the On piano, sum the rhythm of the will discuss using lines and colors to
student has reached that level two hands into one set of holds. Use help students gain proficiency in
of rhythmic difficulty, she has lines drawn between the two hands following the notes. 
usually mastered the notes and on the beat to show the student how References
will not need to say the note the hands are organized in time. The Rosen, Charles. Piano Notes: The
names anymore. The student parenthesis in the extended counting World of the Pianist. New York:
will focus on counting at that also reflects the rhythm for both The Free Press, 2002.
point. It takes two to four years to hands (Example 7). © 2008 Geoffrey Keith
get to the point where the student will Play both hands together
no longer need to say the note names. saying, “E hold third D E hold third F, About the author
G C third third third A third A, G hold Geoffrey Keith
second G F hold second F, E hold hold received his music
hold hold hold hold hold.” degree from U-Mass
Singing the notes with the student Lowell in 1993 and
is great ear training for her. (A caution now runs his own
for full time music teachers: if you music lesson studio,
sing through 40 to 60 lessons per Success Music
week, you risk laryngitis.) Also, use a Studio, specializing
pointer, such as a conductor’s baton in multisensory
or a pencil, to point at the notes, strategies for teaching music to young
holds, and rests while you sing or students, students with dyslexia,
say them with her. This will help AD/HD, and visual-spatial learning
her keep the steady beat and not styles (successmusicstudio.com).
get lost in the score. Have her sing He has taught music for the last 18
or say the note, interval, and chord years, nine of them working with
names through once or twice multisensory strategies; he is also
while she plays before you play a visual thinker.
THE DYSLEXIC READER PAGE 5

Michael’s Great Day (cont’d from p. 1) title that struck me as an oxymoron: gained confidence in understanding how
The Gift of Dyslexia. My knee jerk his brain works. He began the Program
easier in school. We found a phonics
reaction was “this is NOT a gift.” But reading at the second grade level, and


program and faithfully followed the
I bought the book. finished at the sixth grade level.
steps. Then we tried another one. Math
Over time, we built the trigger
was a struggle, and even a hands on
words, did the Koosh® ball exercises,
approach was less than successful. We had this disconnect and the reading exercises. Slowly but
Then we bought a program that claimed between who he was and his surely, Michael got closer and closer to
if he could learn to crawl he would be experience with school.” grade level. Today, he’s taken, survived
able to read. We spent thousands on a
and completed his SATs and will be
vision therapy program that was fun, I couldn’t read it fast enough. This
attending Wingate University on a soccer
but ineffectual. book described my son’s experiences
scholarship. He continues to use his
Michael was obviously bright, and brain in a way that made total
Davis “tools.” He has discovered that he
curious, and gifted with perception and sense to me. I immediately called the
can even “diagnose” what’s bothering
athletic ability. He loved animals, and California office to get the name of the
him in math and at school and then use
cooking. As a very young boy, he and closest facilitator. She was gracious and
Symbol Mastery or the Reading
his brother had a homemade bread caring and answered all my questions.
Exercises to master it. He continues to
business and sold 20 loaves a week to Although we were interested, the timing
grow in his desire to learn and conquer
people in our community. (And people wasn’t right for us to take Michael.
those things he used to avoid, and seems
still talk about how good it was!) We Several years later, at the age of
to be on the verge of “blooming” as a
had this disconnect between who he was 12, Michael did do a Davis Dyslexia
student.
and his experience with school. I was Correction Program. And what a
Michael is graduating tomorrow,
and we are all celebrating! 
browsing through a local bookstore one change we saw. Not only did he make
day when I came across a book with a amazing strides in reading, he also

Quotfrom
ables
Notables ...
“The artist is nothing
“To fly, we have to
without the gift, but the gift
have resistance.”
is nothing without work.”
–Maya Lin,
American architect –Émile Zola, French novelist
and critic (1840-1902)

“We all want progress.


But progress means getting
nearer to the place where
you want to be. If you are on
the wrong road, progress
means doing an about-turn
and walking back to the
right road. There is nothing
progressive about being “Children have never been “When you do the common
pig-headed and refusing very good at listening to their things in life in an uncommon
to admit a mistake.” elders, but they have never way, you will command the
–C.S. Lewis, Irish writer and scholar, failed to imitate them.” attention of the world.”
best known as the author of The –James Baldwin, American writer and –George Washington Carver, American
Chronicles of Narnia (1898-1964) civil rights activist (1924-1987) botanist, educator, inventor (1864-1943)
PAGE 6 THE DYSLEXIC READER

Henry Winkler (cont’d from p. 1) He finally had a name...he was not


International
stupid, he was not lazy, he was trying to live
Davis Dyslexia sharing their stories, we all were surprised to
Correction ®
up to his potential. He was dyslexic!
see Henry Winkler, himself, walking toward Winkler half-jokingly described his
Providers
us–happy to see the crowd. He introduced definition of dyslexia as:
The Davis Dyslexia himself to almost everyone, taking pictures
Correction program is • You spend a third of your time trying to
and shaking hands with awed fans on the
now available from more figure it out.
than 450 Facilitators sidewalk. No sneaky, back-door entrances
• You spend a third of your time trying to
around the world. for him...as he was ushered in by staff, he
For updates, call:
figure out why you can’t figure it out, and
thanked everyone for coming and walked
(888) 805-7216 [Toll free] • You spend a third of your time trying to
or (650) 692-7141 or visit through the front door.
cover up your shame and humiliation for
www.dyslexia.com/ This was a good sign, and things just
providers.htm
not keeping up.
kept getting better! Inside, Henry
He continued on to reveal that his
 Argentina
Winkler entered the stage-front
natural talents, dreams, extreme hard work,
Silvana Ines Rossi area of the town hall to a huge
Buenos Aires
and personality were attributes that enabled
round of applause. Dressed in
+54 (114) 865 3898 jeans, a blue blazer, pink tie,
him to put one foot in front of the other,
 Australia every day, to get where he wanted to be.
Brenda Baird He believes that this potential lives within
Brisbane
+61 (07) 3299 3994
everyone! He went on to say,
Sally Beulke
“If you will it, it is not a dream. I now
Melbourne have found in my life that that is a phrase that
+61 (03) 572 51752
Anne Cupitt
makes the world turn on its axis. If you will
Scarness, Queensland
it, it is not a prayer. What you want, if you
+61 (074) 128-2470 hold it in your brain, and you never let your
Mary Davie
Caringbah NSW
dream go, and put one foot in front of the
and casual shoes, he hopped up on the stage
+61 (02) 9524 3837
other...if you will it, it is not a dream. There
and introduced himself. His in-person energy
Jan Gorman is no reason you cannot have whatever it is
Eastwood / Sydney
is funny, warm, approachable, and very candid!
+61 (02) 9804 1184
you are imagining.
He started off by saying, “I stand before
Bets Gregory
“Every human being who has a learning
Gordon NSW
you being an actor, a director, a producer,
challenge–how you learn has nothing to do
+61 (4) 1401 3490
[and author]. I am a husband, a father to three
with how brilliant you are. Because you learn
Gail Hallinan children [...] and I am in the bottom 3% in
DLS Workshop
differently, it does not mean that you don’t
Presenter-Mentor
this country academically.”
have greatness inside of you! Every one of
Naremburn /Sydney
Despite this jaw-dropping comment, his
+61 (02) 9405 2800
you has greatness inside of you, and your job
delivery was with such grace, humility, and
Barbara Hoi
is to figure out what your gift is and give it to
Mosman / Sydney
humor, that it was a clear demonstration that
the world...and the world cannot wait to see
+61 (02) 9968 1093
academic success is NOT the only measure
what you give...I know I can’t!”
Eileen McCarthy of greatness!
Manly / Sydney
Each progression in his career, each
+61 (02) 9977 2061
He spoke of his life growing up in New
journey to a new level, was once something
Marianne Mullally
York–the same apartment building where Hank
he felt he couldn’t do... didn’t know how. But
Crows Nest, Sydney Zipzer lives. He talked about his real-life
+61 (02) 9436 3766
by putting one foot in front of the other, he
teacher (also a character in his books) who,
Jayne Pivac
found out he could, and did learn how. When
Mordialloc / Melbourne
unfortunately, always called Winkler lazy and
his agent suggested that Winkler write children’s
+61 (342) 030 54 05 not working to his potential. He spoke of his


John Reilly
books about his dyslexia, he thought that he
parents, who didn’t understand him or his
Berala / Sydney
+61 (02) 9649 4299
academic difficulties.
Heidi Rose
Winkler was 31 when he found out he was
Every one of you has greatness
Pennington /Adelaide dyslexic...having spent most of his life believing
+61 (08) 8240 1834 that he was “dumb.” His story is similar to inside of you, and your job is to
Joanne Zietsch figure out what your gift is and
Curtin ACT
many dyslexic adults... a huge percentage of
give it to the world...and the world
+61 (0) 2 6282 1225 whom are undiagnosed even now.
cannot wait to see what you give.”
 Austria
When his son started showing signs of
Annette Dietrich difficulty in school, they decided to have him
Wien could never do that. It took two years before
+43 (01) 888 90 25
tested for a learning disability. As the results
he decided that it was a possibility, and
Gabriele Doetsch
came back and they learned more about
Leutasch/Innsbruck dyslexia, Winkler realized that they were not agreed to meet with his co-writer, Lin Oliver.
+43 (5) 214 64 57 only diagnosing his son, but were also They are now working on their 15th book.
describing him! Reflecting on his journey, Winkler said,

THE DYSLEXIC READER PAGE 7

 Austria (cont’d)
It is amazing what you can figure Jacinta Fennessy
Wien +43 (01) 774 98 22
out...what you can accomplish.
Ina Barbara Hallermann
You don’t even know what you Riezlern +43 5517 20012
can accomplish until you try it. Marika Kaufmann
Never say never!” Lochau
+43 (05574) 446 98
 Belgium
Thera Brugghe
“I said I could never do this. I said, ‘It is
impossible...I have nothing to say.’ ...You put Roeselare
one foot in front of the other–it is amazing what +32 (051) 24 63 40
Ann Devloo-Delva
Veurne +32 (058) 31 63 52
you can figure out...what you can accomplish.
Hilde Duchesne
You don’t even know what you can accomplish
until you try it. Never say never!’” Brasschaat
There were many moments throughout +32 (03) 653 13 71
Inge Lanneau
Beernem
his speech that were incredibly inspiring. Davis Facilitator, Karen LoGuidice with Henry
There were many dyslexic children in the Winkler (aka “The Fonz”) and author of the +32 (050) 33 29 92
audience, and he gave special care to direct much-loved Hank Zipzer books. Peggy Poppe
Antwerpen
+32 (474) 50 23 32
much of his speech toward them. He
out his autograph? He did personalize it!
Viki Vandevenne
answered questions and was amazingly open
Bonheiden
and candid about his experiences. He wrote: “You are 1st! – Henry Winkler.”
There were also many times throughout Very cool! +32 (0473) 30 41 51
his speech when I could correlate what he was Thank you, Henry Winkler, for being  Brazil
such an amazing, open, honest, talented, Ana Lima
Rio De Janeiro
describing to classic disorientation symptoms–
+55 (021) 2295-1505
and wished so much that I could tell him that funny, and, of course, famous dyslexic.
 Bulgaria
Thanks, also, to the Andover Bookstore
for hosting this wonderful event! 
there is an easy way to control them! All
throughout the Hank Zipzer books, there are Daniela Boneva
Ruse
+35 (988) 531 95 06
descriptions of disorientation: Hank can’t © Karen LoGuidice; first published May 14, 2008, at
figure out why he can’t seem to get it...why he www.ne-dyslexia.blogspot.com/Reprinted with permission.
 Canada
Wayne Aadelstone-Hassel
can’t remember the spelling words he studied
for ... why reading is so hard...! As a Davis
Dyslexia Correction Facilitator, I would love “on greatness...” North Vancouver
+1 (604) 988-7680
Jean-Pierre Arbour
Ottawa, Ontario
to see Hank have a Davis Program and feel
the effects of having tools to help him! “As human beings, our +1 (613) 792-4068
At the very end of his absolutely +1 (866) 792-4067 (Toll-Free)
Raylene Barnhill
greatness lies not so much
Fredericton, New Brunswick
wonderful talk, once again I was first in in being able to remake
line–this time for an autograph! There were the world–that is the +1 (506) 458-0494
so many people there... he was not going to Darlene Brown
Smithers/Prince Rupert
myth of the atomic age–
+1 (250) 847-3463
personalize any of the autographs (per the
as in being able to
Paddy Carson
staff). I gave him my book and awkwardly
Edmonton/Alberta
said, “yay! I get to be first!” As he signed my remake ourselves.”
brand new Hank Zipzer book (#14), I pulled –Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948), +1 (780) 489-6225
Dyslexia Resources Canada
Shelley Cotton
a copy of The Gift of Dyslexia out of my bag political and spiritual leader

Sharon Roberts
and in the chaos and rush from the crowd, I
only managed to say a few quick words about Waterloo, Ontario
+1 (519) 746-8422
+1 (800) 981-6433 (Toll-Free)
it. He accepted the book graciously. I’d be
“Never underestimate
Sandy Farrell
crazy to think that he doesn’t already have a
Hudson, Quebec
library of books that have been given to him... the power of dreams
but I dare to dream. and the influence of the +1 (450) 458-4777
Renée Figlarz
Montreal, Quebec
I left knowing that I would always human spirit. We are all
remember this event that far surpassed the same in this notion: +1 (514) 815-7827
anything I was expecting... and, my dream The potential for Sher Goerzen
Maple Ridge/Vancouver
+1 (604) 290-5063
that Henry Winkler will read The Gift of greatness lives within
Dyslexia (a book that has changed the lives
Gerry Grant
each of us.”
Supervisor-Specialist
of so many of the people he is also trying to
Workshop Presenter
–Wilma Rudolph (1940-1994),
reach) continues. In true Henry Winkler style,
Waterloo/Toronto
American Olympic track & field
+1 (519) 498-2424
I can’t wait to hear what he thinks about it! gold medalist (Rome, 1960)
Oh, and when I got home and checked
PAGE 8 THE DYSLEXIC READER

 Canada (cont’d)
Corinne Graumans
The Undiagnosed Teenager
Medicine Hat, Alberta
+1 (403) 528-9848
Sue Hall
with Dyslexia
West Vancouver
+1 (604) 921-1084
By Abigail Marshall
D’vorah Hoffman
Toronto Often, very bright children are able to
+1 (416) 398-6779 compensate for their dyslexia in the early
Sue Jutson
Vancouver, B.C.
school years, but cannot cope with the
+1 (604) 732-1516 greater intellectual demands of secondary
Mary Ann Kettlewell level schooling.
London, Ontario
+1 (519) 652-0252 Some common signs that your
Carol Livermore teenager may have dyslexia:
Ottawa, Ontario
+1 (800) 394-1535 [Toll Free] • Your child must repeatedly read and reread
Julie Locke
Truro, Nova Scotia
material in order to understand it.
+1 (902) 895-9015
• Your child has extreme difficulty managing
Yuko Kimura McCulloch, Ph.D. and keeping track of homework assignments
Vancouver, B.C.
+1 (604) 222-2258
and deadlines for his various classes.
Helen McGilivray
• Your child repeatedly reports that he was
Oakville/Toronto unaware of assignments and deadlines
+1 (905) 464-4798
Susan Nikolic-Vicentic
because the teacher “never told” him what
Newmarket/Toronto
was required.
+1 (905) 953-0033 • Your child has unexpected difficulty with
Maureen O’Sullivan
Newmarket, Ontario
learning a foreign language.
+1 (905) 853-3363
• Your child struggles with higher math,
Tina Panaritis
such as algebra.
Montreal, Quebec • There is a significant discrepancy
+ 1 (514) 690-9164
Sharon Permack
between your child’s school performance
Thornhill, Ontario
and scores on standardized tests, including at least in some subject areas. He may have
+1 (905) 882-9292 college board tests such as the PSAT. learned about dyslexia on his own, through
Rocky Point Academy Internet web sites or by talking to other kids.
Stacey Borger-Smith If your child shows significant problems
Lawrence Smith, Jr.
In any case, he knows that he is struggling
Calgary +1 (403) 685-0067
in any one of the above areas, it is a sign that with material that seems easy for his peers.
+1 (866) 685-0067 (Toll-Free)
he may have a previously undiagnosed learning Your teenager may be afraid to bring up the
Kendra Rodych disability. You should discuss these issues with
Saskatoon/Saskatchewan
subject of dyslexia at home. He may be
+1 (306) 979-7323
him and also talk to parents of his classmates embarrassed to let you know just how poorly
Catherine Smith
to find out whether their children are also he is doing at school, or he may be afraid that
Oakville/Toronto having problems with the same subjects.
+1 (905) 844-4144
you will be angry or upset.
1-888-569-1113 toll-free
Sometimes a problem with a math class or It is important that you listen to your
Edwina Stone
the first year of a foreign language can simply child and try to understand the reasons he
Kitchener Ontario be the result of a poor teacher; poor grades in
+1 (519) 584-0873
feels he needs extra help. You might want to
any subject can also occur with a teacher who
Bernice Taylor
take a list of common dyslexia symptoms and
Riverview, NB
is unusually strict in grading practices. If it is ask your child to show you which problems
+1 (506) 871-5674 a “teacher” problem, usually other students on the list he feels apply to him. You may be
Tracy Trudell and parents will have similar complaints.
Wallacetown, Ontario
surprised to learn that your child has been
+1 (519) 762-2001
However, if the problems seem to be unusual struggling for years, but has managed in the
Kim J. Willson-Rymer
or persistent, you should seek an evaluation past to hide his problems through sheer
Mississauga, Ontario for dyslexia or other learning barriers. The
+1 (905) 825-3153
determination and hard work. Your support
guidance counselor at school may be able to
Cheryl Wood
and understanding is crucial; for a child who
Huntsville, Ontario
help arrange such testing, as well as to help has previously done well academically, an
+1 (705) 783-2763
plan your child’s course schedule to better appropriate diagnosis can be the boost he
 China
meet his needs. needs to excel in high school and gain
Yvonne Wong Ho Hing admittance into the college of his choice. 
Hong Kong
When an older child asks for help
+852-7323-7702 In some cases, your older child or teenager Reprinted with permission from The Everything
Livia Wong may be the one who asks for testing. Your Parent’s Guide to Children with Dyslexia ©2004;
Hong Kong
+852-2810-0282
child may find the academic demands in F+W Publications, Inc., by Abigail Marshall,
middle school and high school overwhelming, Adams Media, $14.95 trade paperback.
THE DYSLEXIC READER PAGE 9

 Colombia
Famous Dyslexics Remember Laura Zink de Díaz
Bogotá +57 (1) 704-4399
 Costa Rica
Nelson Lauver’s website Rod Duncan was born in a
begins, “Nationally syndicated small village on the Welsh Maria Elena Guth Blanco
San Jose
+506 296-4078
journalist, broadcaster, coast. Back then, life was
Marcela Rodriguez
auto-biographical writer, good – lots of messing
Alajuela
motivational speaker, around with sand and
humorist, entrepreneur and buckets. But when young +506 442-8090
literacy advocate…Nelson Rod started school, the  Cyprus
Alexis Mouzouris
Limassol
Lauver is a guy who beat the odds and educational psychologist informed his
+357 25 382 090
changed his life.” On his American parents that he didn’t know what was
 Ecuador
Storyteller Radio Journal, Lauver tells wrong with him. Since the professional
four-minute slice-of-life stories broadcast believed there was no such thing as dyslexia, Ana Magdalena Espin
Vargas
Ambato
on 60 radio stations. A far cry from his life that certainly couldn’t have been the
+593 (2) 854 281
in 1992, when he was a line painter in a problem! The local education authority
Nora Cristina Garza Díaz
parking lot. Lauver says that he graduated ultimated advised Rod’s family that they
couldn’t educate him, and he was sent to Ambato
+593 (3) 282 5998
104th out of 104 students. “I was that kid
trying to read, stuttering and stammering. Edington School in Somerset, specializing in
Carmensol Herdoíza
Ambato
I heard someone laugh, and that sent me teaching dyslexic children. Rod evaded some
+593 (3) 284 9344
on this course of not doing well in school.” of his difficulties by focusing on the sciences.
Cristina Mariela Lara
Lauver also had conflicts with teachers: After graduating with a Mining Geology
degree he worked in scientific research until Salazar
Ambato
At first he received paddlings, but later
+ 593 (2) 854 281
outright beatings. On average he missed 1989. After a stint doing volunteer work in
Inés Gimena Paredes Ríos
50 days of school a year. But after he was Taiwan and finding himself unemployed, he
diagnosed with dyslexia at 29, and began began to write. Now he spends more time Ambato
to work on his problems with reading and writing than any other activity. Rod has +593 (2) 854 281
writing, he started writing stories about  Finland
Elisabeth Helenelund
Borga +358 400 79 54 97
his family and friends. And dreaming of

 France
being a broadcaster. Those stories became
Christine Bleus
recordings and eventually he fulfilled his
dream. Today his fans compare him to Saint Jean de Gonville/
Genève
+33 450 56 40 48
Garrison Keillor, Paul Harvey, or Charles
Corinne Couelle
Kuralt. In addition to his radio program, he
Lyon
also offers motivational talks on a variety published three novels, the “Riot” mystery/
of inspiring subjects, including one titled suspense trilogy: Backlash, Breakbeat and +33 (628) 38 84 41
Burnout, and participated in two “live Jennifer Delrieu
Voisins le Bretonneux/Paris
“Inside the Mind of a Kid with Learning
+33 (01) 30 44 19 91
Problems.” Learn more about Nelson, literature” projects, Hazard Warning and
Françoise Magarian
and even download many of his stories Blood Mother, collaborating with novelists
Clare Littleford and Sally Spedding. Legny/Lyon
+33 (0474) 72 43 13
free at: www.theamericanstoryteller.com.

Carol Nelson
Clement R. Arrison Boulogne-Billancourt/Paris
had great difficulty learning to read and radios and other electronic devices in high +33 (0) 1 49 09 12 33
Odile Puget
Segny/Geneve
write during his childhood in Michigan. school. He studied electrical engineering
+33 (0) 450 418 267
In his 30s, his sister gave him a copy of in college and joined Bell Aerospace in
Guilaine Batoz Saint-Martin
Reversals, a book about overcoming Buffalo, New York after graduation.
dyslexia, and he realized that it was “the Eventually, he became president of Mark La Bastidonne/Marseille
story of my life up to that time.” Arrison IV Industries, a leading manufacturer of +33 (0490) 08 98 56
realized reading and writing were not highly-engineered systems and components  Germany/Deutschland
Theresia Adler
Bannewitz
his strong suits, but also that everyone for the worldwide automotive market.
+49 (0351) 40 34 224
has strengths and weaknesses. “I had Mark IV is Headquartered in Amherst, New
Ellen Ebert
trouble in high school, but so did a lot York and Turin, Italy and has operations
of kids.” With his father’s help, he Ammern
+49 (03601) 813-660
in 16 countries. Clement retired from his
eventually became a better reader, but
Cornelia Garbe
position as president of Mark IV Industries
Berlin
spelling continued to elude him. “I didn’t in 1996 and became an advocate for the
understand the way the English language reading-disabled. And through his Arrison +49 (030) 61 65 91 25
went together. There are so many ways Family Foundation provided major funding Astrid Grosse-Mönch
Buxtehude
+49 (04161) 702 90 70
to spell a word, so many meanings.” for the documentary, Demystifying
Arrison devoted his energies to building Dyslexia, produced by WNED in 2006.
PAGE 10 THE DYSLEXIC READER

 Germany/Deutschland
(cont’d) By William Edwards
Das Legasthenie Institut
Ioannis Tzivanakis
Specialist Trainer William Edwards did a Davis
Workshop Presenter
DDA-DACH Director
Dyslexia Correction Program
Berlin +49 (030) 66 30 63 17
with Davis Facilitator Carol
Christine Heinrich
Nelson in Paris in 2005. He is
Schwäb Gmünd now 12 years old. In Volume
+49 (0717) 118 29 74
Sonja Heinrich
48 of The Dyslexic Reader,
Supervisor-Specialist
we published one of William’s
DDA-DACH Director poems. We are delighted to
Garbsen/Hannover
+49 (040) 25 17 86 23
publish his book review in this
Kirsten Hohage
edition! Thank you, William!
Nürnberg
+49 (0911) 54 85 234
This story takes place in Paris in the 1920s,
Ingrid Huth a time of discovery, but also a time of magic.
Berlin +49 (0179) 896 8007 Modern technology was just forming, but
Mechtild Hylla
Kassel +49 (0561) 602 78 20
was still a vague concept to the untuned mind.
Rita Jarrar
Ordinary townsfolk could not understand the
München
card tricks or automatons or even the cinema.
+49 (089) 821 20 30 Hugo Cabret is one of those few individuals The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Inge Koch-Gassmann
By Brian Selznick
Buggingen
who strive to grasp the new magic, even Reading level: Ages 9-12
+49 (07631) 23 29
though he is only a timekeeper in the Central Publisher: Scholastic Press
Angelika Kohn Train Station in Paris. This is odd, because ISBN-10: 0439813786
Steinheim-Kleinbottwar
+49 (07148) 66 08
he is only a nine-year-old boy! ISBN-13: 978-0439813785

Marianne Kranzer
His father was a janitor in the museum.
Königsfeld
One day he was in the attic of the museum out; the museum was burnt to the ground,
+49 (07725) 72 26 and he saw an automaton of unknown origin. along with Hugo’s father and his beloved
Anneliese Kunz-Danhauser
Rosenheim
It was beautiful to his eyes (and to Hugo’s), notebooks. Hugo retrieved the damaged
+49 (08031) 632 29
but a few pieces were missing. Hugo pushed automaton from the ruins of the museum.
Sabine La Due
his father to renovate it; his father filled Hugo was then taken by his uncle (a
Stuttgart many notebooks with drawings, diagrams Timekeeper) to live with him. He taught little
+49 711 47 91 000
Jutta Meissner
and formulas about the automaton. On Hugo the way of the gears and how to keep
Stuttgart
Hugo’s eighth birthday, his father gave him time. However, his uncle was a drunkard; one
+49 (711) 882 2106 one of these notebooks. But as we know, night he went out and never came back. To


Gundula Patzlaff “Nothing gold can stay.” His father and the keep from losing the automaton and to avoid
Stuttgart
+49 (0711) 23 64 86 0
rest of the notebooks were no being put in an
Margit Pleger
exception. One night while he orphanage, Hugo
The characters are neither
Wetter/Dortmund was working on the project, he took over his uncle’s
+49 (02335) 84 87 60 did not hear a guard shut and
good or evil, dry or wet; they
job. He kept the time
Colette Reimann are people who have both
Landshut
lock the door to the attic. After strengths and weaknesses. by sneaking into the
+49 (0871) 770 994 the guard had left, a fire broke This makes them realistic, train station at night
Ursula Rittler so I can relate to them.” to oil and adjust the
Stuttgart
+49 (0711) 47 18 50
gears. Meanwhile, he
Phoebe Schafschetzy
put everything in the automaton back
Hamburg into place, and then it was able to write.
+49 (040) 392 589 He hoped that it would write a note (left
Margarethe Schlauch-
Agostini
by his father) that would help him in some
Volklingen way. Little did he know, it would only
+49 (0689) 844 10 40 draw a picture, but that picture would be
Gabriela Scholter
Supervisor-Specialist
very important, a turning point.
Stuttgart What I really liked about this book
+49 (0711) 578 28 33 was the plot, although the writing itself
Beate Tiletzek
Waldkraiburg
is undistinguished, like the writing in the
+49 (08638) 88 17 89 Harry Potter series. At first you seem
Andrea Toloczyki to know everything that is going on (at
Havixbeck / Münster
+49 (02507) 57 04 84
least, the gist of things), but as you read
on and the characters (along with the
THE DYSLEXIC READER PAGE 11
plot) get more twists and turns, what you
 Germany/Deutschland
(cont’d)
thought was right seems obviously wrong.
Ulrike von Kutzleben-Hausen
Also the characters are neither good or evil,
Deisslingen
dry or wet; they are people who have both
strengths and weaknesses. This makes them +49 (07420) 33 46
Dr. Angelika Weidemann
Ulm +49 (0731) 931 46 46
realistic, so I can relate to them. The twists
Gabriele Wirtz
and turns in the plot come from the flaws and
strengths of the characters. Stuttgart
What initially brought me in was that +49 (0711) 55 17 18
 Greece
Evagelia Apostolopoulou-
the story was set in Paris. Because I lived
in Paris for a year, I have so many memories Armaos
of train stations in Paris. For example, the Patras +30 (261) 062 21 22
Zoe Deliakidou
Thessaloniki
Musee* d’ Orsay was once the Gare* Brian Selznick (left) signs books after the 2007
d’Orsay. I remember the big clock there, like NBA Teen Press Conference. +30 2310 434510
the clock that Hugo lived behind in the sta- or +30 6934 662438
tion. So many things can happen in a big city Book Award, in the Young People’s Literature Irma Vierstra-Vourvachakis
Rethymnon / Crete
+30 283105 8201
like Paris! I made many discoveries myself category. The book is 550 pages long and
and I thought Paris was magical. includes 300 full-page graphite illustrations. or 69766 40292
The story evolves as much through the  Iceland
Áslaug Ásgeirsdóttir
* Musee = museum (in French) illustrations as through the text. In an
* Gare = train station (in French) Mosfellsbaer
+354 861-2537
exclusive interview for Amazon.com the
Sigrún Jónina Baldursdóttir
About the author and the book author described it as “not exactly a novel,
Snaefellsbae
+354 586 8180
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian not quite a picture book, not really a graphic
Gudrún Benediktsdóttir
Selznick won the Caldecott Medal in 2008 novel, or a flip book or a movie, but a
and was a finalist in 2007 for the National combination of all these things.”  Hafnarfirdi
+354 545 0103 or
+354 822 0910
Mini-Book Reviews
Gudbjörg Emilsdóttir
By Laura Zink de Díaz
DLS Mentor
Why is this dino having a Kópavogur
hard time getting a meal? +354 554 3452
Hólmfridur Gudmundsdóttir
Gardabae
Just looking at the cover, you know this
Tyrannosaura Rex wants to let you know that +354 895-0252
Sigurborg Svala
Gudmundsdóttir
he’s B.A.D! Stinky and mean, he’s sure he’s
Mosfellsbaer
the king of the dinos. So why does he have
such a hard time getting a meal? In a surprise +354 867 1928
Stefanía Halldórsdóttir Wade
Kopavogur
ending, we discover this particular dinosaur
+354 564 2890
may not be quite as nasty as he appears!
Especially popular with boys, but lots of fun Ingibjörg Ingolfsdóttir
Mosfellsbaer
+354 899-2747
for everyone.
Sigrún Jensdóttir
Mosfellsbaer
+354 897 4437
Valgerdur Jónsdóttir
Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things DLS Presenter-Mentor
Kópavogur
+354 863 2005
By Cy Tymony
Sturla Kristjansson
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
DLS Presenter-Mentor
176 pages, Teens
ISBN-10: 0740738593 Hafnarfjordur
ISBN-13: 978-0740738593 +354 862 0872
Jon Einar Haraldsson
Lambi
C a n yo u t ur n m i lk int o p l a s t ic ? Akureyri +354 867 1875
Did you know that milk can be turned into Ásta Olafsdóttir
Vopnafjordur
+354 473-1164
plastic? Or that any FM radio can be easily
I’m Bad!
Erla Olgeirsdóttir
altered allowing it to eavesdrop on aircraft
Akranes
By Kate & Jim McMullan
+354 694 3339
broadcasts? How about a radio made from a Publisher: Joanna Cotler
Hugrún Svavarsdóttir
penny?! This book will teach you to make a 40 pages, Ages 4 – 8
Mosfellsbær
boomerang with a bookmark or turn a TV ISBN-10: 0061229717
tray into a 6-foot robot. Silly and fun for ISBN-13: 978-0061229718 +354 698-6465
young wannabe MacGyvers!
PAGE 12 THE DYSLEXIC READER

 Iceland (cont’d) Understanding My Gift


Thorbjörg Sigurdardóttir
Reykjavík


+354 698 7213
By Mark Whidden

Margret Thorarinsdottir
Selfoss +354-486-1188

 India A brain like mine is like having


Carol Ann Rodrigues
your computer with you at
Mumbai all times.”
+91 (22) 2667 3649 or
+91 (22) 2665 0174
My name is Mark Whidden. I’m 36 years old
 Ireland
Anne Marie Beggs
and I completed a Davis program last summer
Old Portmarnock/Dublin at The Chicago Reading and Dyslexia Center
+353 (86) 239-1545 with my Davis Facilitator, Kim Ainis. I’d like
Paula Horan
Mullingar
to share some of my thoughts about how
+353 44 934 1613 what I’ve learned has changed my awareness
Sister Antoinette Keelan of my picturing thinking gift, my writing, and
Dublin
+353 (01) 884 4996
relationships. Mark Whidden says ”Use the gift and don’t

Aideen Tierney I used to get frustrated because people be afraid to tell people about it.”
Dublin didn’t understand concepts as quickly as I pleasant to be on the same level as the person
 Israel
Luba Alibash
did. Understanding that people who don’t I’m with, functioning at their speed. When
Ramat Hasharon/Tel Aviv have dyslexia don’t get concepts like I do has our dials don’t match I feel like I’m racing
+972 (09) 772-9888 or
(052) 272-9532
really helped me. Now that I’m aware that and the other person is just standing there.
Mira Ashoosh
most people don’t create mental pictures as This creates a mental image of me running
Kiron vivid as mine, I draw my ideas to help them around them, trying to explain something
+972 (03) 635-0973 understand. I do this especially with software they’re just not getting. When I turn my dial
Goldie Gilad
Kfar Saba/Tel Aviv
and web pages, database projects, or anything down or up, depending on who I’m with, I
+972 (09) 765 1185 conceptual. In meetings I can pull up program can definitely communicate better. Being
Judith Schwarcz sales volume spreadsheets in my head and tell able to control my dial is amazing in another
DDA-Israel Director
Supervisor-Specialist
my co-workers, for example, that a program way, too. Sounds don’t bother me as much
Pearl Zarsky grossed $557,000 last year and $350,000 the any more. If someone is tapping a pen, my
Ra’anana/Tel Aviv
+972 (09) 772 9888
year before. A brain like mine is like having dial still ratchets up, but I can focus.
 Italy
your computer with you at all times. Before the program I never realized how
Elisa De Felice
I’ve also started using this gift when I high my dial rose and how that felt to other
Roma travel. So let’s say I’m in Atlanta, and someone people. I always functioned at a 7 or 8. (Kim
+39 (06) 507 3570


Piera Angiola Maglioli
in Chicago needs help with a software program adds, with a smile–or at a 9). It never occurred
Occhieppo Inferiore / Biella
website. I can actually to me to think about
+39 (015) 259 3080 see the program how this impacted my
Alessandro Taiocchi I don’t feel like I’m running
Settimo Milanese
website in my mind as relationships. I really
+39 (333) 443 7368 I walk down the street circles around people anymore.” appreciate that Kim
Silvia Walter talking with them on showed me how
Bagno a Ripoli Florence
+39 (055) 621 0541
the phone. Even though they might not be too dyslexia and my dial were affecting my
Rafaella Zingerle savvy with software tools, since I can see the relationships. What I learned from her about
Corvara In Badia
+39 (0471) 836 959
page so clearly, over the phone I can help them applying the Davis tools to relationships is
navigate it. More importantly, I can help them just as important as what I learned about
 Kenya
Christel Flowers
understand where they are when they are lost reading and writing.
Langata/Nairobi in a website. If you don’t think in pictures, I Although a relationship I’d been in for
+ 254 (20) 72 271 4578 don’t know how you’d do that. several years ended after the program, what I
Josephine Naikuni
Nairobi
I now feel more confident when I send learned helped me generally with relationships.
+254 (20) 604 347 out an email. If it’s an important one, I make Since my ex’s dial was usually at about a 4 and
Manisha Shah sure I have enough time to write it. And after mine hovered between 7 and 9, this created
Nairobi
+ 254 (0) 722 492 217
I turn my dial down, I can go back to it and problems. I was always saying “Hello-o-o”
Kimberly Swallow reread it with an oriented, calm mind. I feel a and waiting for a response because our dial
Nairobi
+ 254 (20) 712 0472
lot more confident that it’s going to be right settings were so different. Since the Davis
when it goes out. program, there’s no chance you’ll see me on
 Lebanon Matching dial settings helps with the six o’clock news having killed someone
Samar Riad Saab
Beirut +961 3 700 206
conversations. I don’t feel like I’m running whose dial was under 4!
circles around people anymore. It’s more If I have a trigger in a relationship–a
THE DYSLEXIC READER PAGE 13

picture that is sticking with me–I have to talk relationship better. For example, I work on
 Malaysia
Hilary Craig
myself through it so I can let it go. To me it’s a lot of projects. I picture doing them in 10 or
like the reverse of a trigger letter. If you can’t 20 different ways and then pick the optimal Kuala Lumpur
see the letter A, there’s a reason. Conversely, path. In the past I did all that in my head. Now +60 (36) 201 55 95
if 20 related images were always appearing in I share what I think is the optimal path and why  Mexico
Silvia B. Arana García
Mexico, D.F.
my head, I used to use them like bullets, and I think it is the best. If you’re putting up a
+52 (55) 5540-7205
they’d ricochet off a number of issues. Now I bookshelf, it’s more logical to cut the boards
Cathy Calderón de la Barca
can talk about the pattern I see in them–I don’t and sand them before you put polyurethane
have to discuss them all. I’ve realized that it on them. Otherwise, they will be frayed, the México D.F.
Advanced Workshop
Presenter
isn’t always helpful to hash over every image ends won’t look right, and you’ll have to start
every time. over. I find that sharing the fact that my brain +52 (55) 5540-7205
I used to be afraid to talk about being can do something 20 ways and then pick the Hilda Fabiola Herrera Cantu
Culiacan, Sinaloa


+52 81 6677 15 01 19
dyslexic because I didn’t understand how my optimal is interesting to the person I’m dating.
María Silvia Flores Salinas
mind really worked I can share what I
and didn’t have a think we should do Supervisor –Specialist
I understand how my dyslexia Garza García Monterrey NL
+52 (81) 8378 61 75
rationale for how or and how I got there,
is a gift and how the challenges
that sometimes come with it are Laura Lammoglia
why I was dyslexic. and ask them if they
But now I find that related. I now know how to fix the agree. Tampico, Tamaulipas
others find it interesting parts of dyslexia that are problems Recently, I had +52 (833) 213 4126
Alejandra Garcia Medina
so they won’t be problems.” Huixquilucan
and they understand another validation that
me and my gifts better. shows I don’t need to +52 (55) 1085 5608l
be afraid to tell people about my dyslexia. My Maria Lourdes Gutiérrez
Mexico D.F.
Until I did a Davis Program I just had a
+52 (555) 593 18 22
learning disability and people said, “Oh, so current support person and friend became
you can’t read and you can’t type.” Verbally, really interested in the way I think, and read Lucero Palafox de Martin
Veracruz
+52 (229) 935 1302
I tested at a Mensa IQ but I couldn’t write The Gift of Dyslexia. She is impressed with
Ana Elena Payro Ogarrio
well. But now I understand how my dyslexia is how my brain works and what my gifts are.
a gift and how the challenges that sometimes My message to other dyslexic people is, Corregidora, Queretaro
come with it are related. I now know how to use the gift and don’t be afraid to tell people +52 442 228 1264
Lydia Gloria Vargas
Garza García Monterrey NL
fix the parts of dyslexia that are problems so about it. Use caution of course: when I told a
they won’t be problems any more. former manager about my dyslexia, she started +52 (81) 8338 2226
Now that I’m dating again–that whole to talk slower to me! I eventually decided to  Netherlands
new world of emails, Instant Messaging, and find a new job. With a new job and a whole Liesbeth Berg-Schagen
Vleuten
+31 (030) 604-9601
texting–I’m pretty up front about the whole new set of tools for learning and working,
dyslexic thing. I’ve found it makes the I’m much happier!  Manja Bloemendal
Den Haag
+31 (70) 345 5252
Ineke Blom
Steve Mock Thinks Outside the Box Dorpstraat
+31 (020) 436-1484
Lot Blom
Steve Mock grew up with dyslexia. a treasure hunt when they wish to Utrecht +31 (030) 271 0005
He was a very bright child but Lieneke Charpentier
Nieuwegein
give a child a gift for a birthday, or
+31 (030) 60 41 539
spent his summers in “dyslexia special occasion. Giftventure creates
Hester Cnossen
camp” because he couldn’t read or and mails a series of letters to the child
complete written assignments. from a mythical character – a pirate, Veghel +31 (495) 641 920
Ratnavali de Croock
Oudorp (Aalkmaar)
Fortunately, during the tenth grade, dragon, fairy, even Santa Claus. The
Steve figured out his own learning style letters lead the child to a gift that the +31 (072) 511 6881
and began to excel in physics and history. He purchaser has hidden somewhere. Steve Mine de Ranitz
Driebergen
+31 (0343) 521 348
even learned to speak Japanese and lived in says, “The kids are having so much fun
Christien De Smit
Japan for several years. in the adventure, they don’t realize they are
Now, he’s a successful high-tech business reading and writing and doing what would Sluis +31 (0117) 461 963
Marijke Eelkman Rooda-Bos
Gouda +31 (0182) 517-316
entrepreneur. He says that’s “because of my ability be considered homework in other circumstances.”
Jolien Fokkens
to think outside the box, something I credit to If this sounds like an intriguing way to give
Beilen +31 (0593) 540 141
being dyslexic.” a child a gift, you can visit the website,
Steve’s latest business enterprise is www.giftventure.com to learn more about it. Ina Gaus
Santpoort-Zuid
+31 (023) 538-3927
“Giftventure,” a service based on a game You can also listen to children talk about their
Jola Geldermans
he invented for his nieces. Giftventure is a Giftventure treasure hunts at:
personalized treasure hunt. Customers can order www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpDEorlq95E  Beverwijk
+31 (0251) 210 607
PAGE 14

 Netherlands (cont’d) Finding the Right Niche


Jan Gubbels
Maastricht
+31 (043) 36 39 999
By Laura Zink de Díaz, Davis Facilitator in Bogotá, Colombia

Judith Holzapfel We didn’t discover that my daughter, Sara,


Deventer
+31 (0570) 619 553
was dyslexic until after she was out of college
Mia Jenniskens
and had worked for several years as a chemical
Eindhoven engineer. Eventually, she tired of the private
+31 (040) 245 9458
Trudy Joling
sector and decided to enroll in graduate
Laren
school. As an undergraduate she’d had a few
+31 (035) 531 00 66 struggles, but none of us realized they related
Marie Koopman
Bilthoven
specifically to reading until in graduate
+31 (030) 228 4014
school her reading load increased to about
Carry Kuling 600 pages per week. Having listened to me
Heemstede
+31 (0235) 287 782
chirp about dyslexia all during my Davis
Edith Kweekel-Göldi
Facilitator training (and put up with being
Soest +31 (035) 601 0611 my guinea pig on occasions!), she called me
Imelda Lamaker and asked for a program during winter break
Hilversum
+31 (035) 621 7309
that year.
Irma Lammers
That was two years ago. I don’t think
Boxtel +31 (411) 68 56 83 Sara was terribly good about doing the follow-
Yvie Leenaars-de Rooÿ
Sara Díaz, during her Davis Program in Mount
up work. She had a lot of other stuff to do!
Bavel +31 (0161) 433 449
Vernon, Washington.
But she continued to use Alignment and the
ZeiZei Lerninstitut
Drs. Siegerdina Mandema
other tools often, especially when the reading graduate academic pursuits will contribute
Specialist Trainer load grew particularly heavy or she had to significantly to the intellectual and cultural
Advanced Workshop
Presenter
write a significant paper. Sara tells me that enrichment of departmental programs.”
DDA-Nederland Director when she just can’t get a paper right and has The fellowship is for two years, and
Robin Temple
Specialist Trainer
trouble staying aligned to work on it, one of Sara expects to finish her doctorate in exactly
Workshop Presenter the things that helps the most is for her room two years, because although her program
Maria Hoop


+31 (0475) 302 203
mate to toss her the Koosh balls. doesn’t officially start until the fall, she’s
Sjan Melsen
already completed quite a bit of the course
Arnhem work. This fellowship will cover all her tuition
+31 (026) 442 69 98 She’s finally found an academic and fees, freeing her from the need to work
Cinda Musters niche where her gifts are being
Amsterdam
while she studies and writes her thesis. It will
+31 (20) 330-78 08
recognized and rewarded without also include health, vision and dental benefits.
Bert Neele
a moment’s hesitation about the Since Sara has asthma, that part is a real boon!
Melick occasional misspelled word.”
+31 (61) 259 8802
Of course, I’m biased–I have always
Marianne Oosterbaan
known Sara is brilliant, astoundingly persistent
Zeist +31 (030) 691 7309 Last fall she finished up her Masters in and hardworking. But I also know that many
Fleur van de Polder-Paton History of Science at the University of of her teachers in elementary, high school
Schiedam
+31 (010) 471 58 67
Washington. This June she walked across the and in college, underestimated her–some
even devalued her because of her difficulties
Petra Pouw-Legêne
stage to receive her diploma. You go, Sara!
DLS Nederlands Director
But there’s more… with mechanics–spelling, punctuation, etc. And
Beek Sara applied for admission to a doctoral yet, at 30, she’s finally found an academic
+31 (046) 437 4907 program in the Women’s Studies department at niche where her gifts are being recognized
Karin Rietberg
Holten
UW, where her focus will be “Women of Color and rewarded without a moment’s hesitation
+31 (548) 364 286 in the Sciences” (their under-representation, about the occasional misspelled word!
Jacqueline van Rijswijck actually). Her application was accepted in As Editor, I put together the “Famous
Venray +31 (0478) 58 73 98 March, and the department informed her she Dyslexics Remember” section of The
Lydia Rogowski Wijnberg
Helmond +31 (0492) 513 169
was their number one choice for admission! Dyslexic Reader. Working on it for this issue,
Hanneke Schoemaker
Very cool! But there’s more... I paused and considered the possibility that in
Wageningen another ten years time, my own daughter
+31 (0317) 412 437
In April, Sara received notification that
she’s been selected to receive the GO-MAP might actually qualify to be featured there.
Ilse Schreuder
Aalzum/Dokkum
Fellowship (Graduate Opportunities & Minority And if she were, I know her comments on the
+31 (051) 922-0315 Achievement Program). It’s a competitive challenges posed by her dyslexia would surely
Silvia Jolanda Sikkema include grateful thanks to Ron Davis and
Drachten
award based on “departmental nomination
+31 (0512) 538 815
of students who demonstrate high academic DDAI for making these wonderful tools
merit and whose life experiences and/or available to so many people just like her! 
THE DYSLEXIC READER PAGE 15

 Netherlands (cont’d)
Suzan Sintemaartensdijk
Akersloot
+31 (25) 131-26 62
Kids Are Quick Marja Steijger
Amstel
+31 (020) 496 52 53
Romina Toroz
Teacher: Maria, go to the map and find North America
Maria: Here it is. Utrecht +31 (61) 280-1821
Teacher: Karima P.A. Turkatte
Amsterdam
Correct. Now class, who discovered America?
+31 (020) 696 4379
Class: Maria.
Marieke Uiterwijk
Teacher: John, why are you doing your math multiplication on the floor? Leiden +31 (071) 576 2533
Mieke van Delden
Leek +31 (059) 4514985
John: You told me to do it without using tables.
Carly van den Akker
Teacher: Donald, what is the chemical formula for water? Schijndel/Einhoven
Donald: H I J K L M N O. +31 (06) 15 20 81 73
Agnes van den
Homberg-Jacobs
Teacher: What are you talking about?
Donald: Yesterday you said it’s H to O. America Limburg
HIJKLMNO? +31 (077) 464 23 22
Annette van der Baan
Amsterdam
Teacher: Winnie, name one important thing we have
today that we didn’t have ten years ago. +31 (020) 420-5501
Winnie: Me! Hetty van der Well
Oss
+31 (041) 263 6403
Annemarie van Hof
Teacher: Millie, give me a sentence starting with ‘I.’
Millie: Utrecht
+31 (030) 65 86 700
I is ...

Tienke Veenstra-Sierhsma
Teacher: No, Millie ... Always say, ‘I am.’
Meppel
Millie: All right ... ‘I am the ninth letter of the alphabet.’
+31 (0522) 254 453
Lia Vermeulen
Huizen +31 (062) 3671530
Teacher: George Washington not only chopped down his
Christien Vos
father’s cherry tree, but also admitted it. Now,
Louie, do you know why his father didn’t punish him? Tolbert +31 (0594) 511 607
Lucie Wauben-Cruts
Louis: Because George still had the axe in his hand.
Elsloo +31 (046) 437
0329
Gerda Witte-Kuijs
Teacher: Now, Simon, tell me frankly, do you say prayers before eating?
Simon: No sir, I don’t have to, my Mom is a good cook. Heerhugowaard
+31 (072) 571 3163
Teacher: Clyde, your composition on ‘My Dog’ is exactly the  New Zealand
Kirsteen Britten
Christchurch
same as your brother’s. Did you copy his?
+64 (3) 348 1665
Clyde: No, sir. It’s the same dog.
Vivienne Carson
Auckland
+64 (09) 520-3270
Teacher: Harold, what do you call a person who keeps on
talking when people are no longer interested?
Catherine Churton
DDA-Pacific Director
Harold: A teacher.
Supervisor-Specialist
Auckland
+64 (021) 448 862
A Paradigm
Jennifer Churton
Auckland
“I’m the greatest batter in the world,” said the proud boy as he +64 (09) 360 494
tossed the ball into the air and swung his bat. He missed. Ann Cook
Warkworth/Auckland
Undaunted, he threw the ball up again and said, “I’m the +64 (0) 9 422 0042
greatest batter ever!” He missed again. Martine Falconer
Christchurch
+64 (03) 383-1988
He looked at his ball and then his bat. Once more he tossed
Konstanca Friedrich-Palzer
the ball up into the air. “I’m the greatest batter who ever
Motueka/Nelson
+64 (03) 527 8060
lived!” He swung hard and missed.

Tina Guy
“Wow!” he exclaimed. “And “I’m an even better pitcher!”
Nelson
+64 (03) 547 4958
PAGE 16 THE DYSLEXIC READER

 New Zealand (cont’d) bAd Boy Makes Good


Wendy Haddon
Mosgiel +64 (03) 489-8572 By Laura Zink de Díaz, Davis Facilitator in Bogotá, Colombia
Rochelle Harden Booth
Wanganui Vincenzo Giammanco had a miserable time
+64 (027) 306-6743 in school. Teachers and even some of his
Sandra Hartnett
Mapua, Nelson
classmates humiliated him regularly.
+64 (03) 540 3277 “Sometimes it took me two hours to do
Margot Hewitt the same simple homework assignment that
Kaiapoi +64 (03) 312-0496
Alma Holden
another kid could do in 15 minutes, “ recalls
Alexandra
Giammanco in an interview with Dennis
+64 (027) 485-6798 Taylor of the Monterrey Herald. “I had to
Bronwyn Jeffs
Christchurch
sound out every letter, decipher every word.”
+64 (03) 344-2526
But today, at 23, Vincenzo is a budding
Glenys Knopp filmmaker and writer. His short film, bAd, is
Darfield +64 (03) 317-9072 the story of a dyslexic fifth grader just trying
Raewyn Matheson
DLS Mentor
to get through the school year. Many of the
Inglewood
experiences of John Read, the main character, Vincenzo Giammanco, producer of “bAd,” an
+64 (027) 411-8350 are taken from Giammanco’s childhood. He award-winning short film about a dyslexic
Tania McGrath
child.
Christchurch
recalls how he’d break into a sweat waiting
+64 (03) 322 41 73 his turn to read aloud in class. That stressful you get out of school and into the real world.”
Shelley McMeeken experience became a scene in the movie, Since bAd came out in 2007, it has won
Dunedin +64 3 456 5058 where the clock ticks down as John struggles a Young Artist Award: Best Performance in a
Colleen Morton
Gore +64 (03) 208 6308
with a book that seems twice his size. Short Film–Young Actor (Remy Thorne) and


Kerrie Palma
“I was an extremely creative child, but was nominated for Best Short Film Starring
Rodney +64 (09) 425 5941 when school came Youth. The teacher who
Jocelyn Print along I just started told young Vincenzo
Kaikoura Vincenzo recalls how he’d break
+64 (03) 319 6711
falling behind,” says that he’d never amount
into a sweat waiting his turn to
Alison Syme
Giammanco. “My self- to anything, must be
Darfield +64 (03) 318-8480 esteem began to suffer read aloud in class.” biting his tongue
Lorna Timms
Christchurch
and I began to hate these days! His first
+64 (03) 363 9358 going there. I’d fake being sick or make any film a success, Giammanco is working on two
Margot Young other excuse to get to stay home.” more screenplays.
Auckland
+64 (0) 9 638 3627
Fortunately, during junior year in high Reader reviewers at Amazon.com, where
 Philippines
school Giammanco enrolled in a class on the DVD is available for sale, agree that this
Imelda Casuga
filmmaking and suddenly discovered that his 30-minute film is a must-see for school
Baguio City dyslexia might actually be more of a gift than teachers and administrators.
+63 (744) 42 29 01 he’d ever considered. On line you can read Dennis Taylor’s
 Poland
Agnieszka Osinska
Giammanco gained new insight into his extensive article in the Monterrey Herald
Warsaw situation: “A dyslexic person is forced all his about Giammanco (Dyslexic Makes Good
+48 (22) 658-2237 life to think outside the box to (find) ways to bAd Movie) at:
 Portugal do some of the things a normal person does www.montereyherald.com/fdcp?1210912878339
Ana Catarina Gil de
Almeida
easily. I feel like that often creates a level of You can also watch the trailer for bAd
Lisboa +35 (121) 781-6090 creativity, as well as a work ethic, that other on Youtube at:
Maria Teresa Henriques people don’t have, and those things help when www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZWQ5t755_o 
Lisboa +351 (21) 847-3515
Cristina Rocha Vieira
Lisboa
+35 (191) 921 4808 Test your logic . . .
Sofia Vassalo Santos
Lisboa
+35 (191) 911-2565
IMAGINE you are in a room with three switch- THE SOLUTION: Keep the first bulb
 Republic of Singapore
es. In an adjacent room there are three bulbs, switched on for a few minutes. It gets
Phaik Sue Chin
each in a separate lamp sitting on a table. All warm, right? Now all you have to do is
Singapore +65 6773 4070
are off at the moment, each switch belongs to switch it off, switch another one on, walk
Constance Chua
one bulb. It is impossible to see from one room into the room with the bulbs, touch them
Singapore +65 6873 3873 to another. How can you find out which switch and tell which one was switched on as the

 South Africa
belongs to which bulb, if first one (the warm one) and the others can

Sharon Gerkin
you may enter the room then be easily identified.
Durban +27 (82) 82 85 180
with the bulbs only once? From brainden.com, brain Teasers Forum,
http://brainden.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=58
THE DYSLEXIC READER PAGE 17

 Spain
Silvia María Sabatés
Rodrigo
Madrid +34 (091) 636 31 44
 Switzerland/CH
Tinka Altwegg-
Scheffmacher
St. Gallen
+41 (071) 222 07 79
Monika Amrein
Zurich
+41 (01) 341 8264
Regula Bacchetta-
By Abigail Marshall
Bischofberger
Horw /Luzern
+41 (041) 340 2136
Let child discover own mistakes
A: If by “stably fixed” you mean that the
Priska Baumgartner
Wettingen
Q: My children are creating their clay mind’s eye stays permanently at the orientation
+41 (056) 426 28 88
alphabets. My 11-year-old daughter is not point, that should never happen. We wouldn’t
making a nice alphabet: it’s sloppy! The Renate Blum-Muller
Full-Reuenthal
want that, because disorientation is a powerful
+41 (56) 246-18 66
younger ones have better alphabets. I’m so tool in appropriate settings. There are simply
Michelle Bonardi
glad they’re not comparing! Should I have times when people need to disorient in order
her do it again? Should I tell her it’s not Castel S. Pietro, Ticino
+41 (091) 630 23 41
to make sense of their environment or cope
acceptable? She just seems to be sloppy by
Vicki Brignoli
with overwhelming stimulus.
Lumino
nature. When a letter is backwards, should If what you mean is that the process of
I point out the mistake, or have the children finding the orientation point becomes habitual +41 (091) 829 05 36
try to find the error themselves? I should Carole Dubosson
Veyras/Sierre
so that the person is able to stay on point for
+41 (027) 452 62 02
mention that after a break, when I asked longer periods, that comes over time with
Brigitta Dünki
my daughter if she was satisfied with her experience. Practice could speed up that
Rafz
+ 41 (079) 318-8300
alphabet, she said she wasn’t, and proceeded process. The brain-training computer programs
Ursula Fischbacher
to fix it on her own! MIGHT work, but only if they train to the
A: Congratulations–you did exactly the right same orientation point. It is very possible that Orpund
thing. You never want to point out mistakes they in fact train to a different mental state +41 (032) 355 23 26
Mieke Friederichs
Reinach
or make your child change things. Rather, than the ones achieved with orientation.
you should help her find them on her own Since we don’t know–those programs weren’t +41 (061) 712 42 06
by asking questions like “are you satisfied?” developed in conjunction with Davis–I would Heidi Gander-Belz
DLS Presenter-Mentor
Monchaltorf
Taking a break was a good step–you can also recommend sticking with the Koosh® ball
use the Davis tools: having your daughter do exercises. +41 (44) 948 14 10
release, and then reminding her to check her One more caveat: If you are talking about Elisabeth Gerber
Mettmenstetten
+41 (044) 767 10 54
point (or “hands” if she has done alignment yourself, please feel free to follow whatever
Katharina Grenacher
instead of orientation). Then you can ask the schedule of practice you feel comfortable with.
“are you satisfied?” question. If your daughter However, if you are working with a child, it Bern
doesn’t see a problem at first you can use is probably not a good idea to try to speed up +41 (031) 382 00 29
Elisabeth Gut
Grut +41 (044) 932 3242
questioning to bring her attention to problems the process. If you push too far or too fast
Ursula Hirzel Egler
like reversed letters, as you work with the you could simply create resistance or stress.
alphabet.
Difficulty creating mental pictures Stäfa +41 (01) 926 2895
It is very important that the child Christa Jaeger
discover her own mistakes and also that she Q: I did the perceptual ability assessment with Riehen
+41 (061) 641 4667
have ownership and control of her alphabet. four of my children. I got some confusing
Consuelo Lang
Lumino
results and am unsure of the next step. My
+41 (091) 829 05 36
Disorientation is valuable at times 11-year-old girl had no problems with the
Q: Should one constantly readjust oneself assessment. She’s a “textbook” dyslexic. I Claudia Lendi
St. Gallen
+41 (071) 288 41 85
at the orientation point after orientation think I’m just supposed to go to the next step
Beatrice Leutert
counseling? Or, after practice, is the person’s in the book with her. My 10-year-old boy
Stein am Rhein
awareness stably fixed at the orientation can’t see pictures very well with his eyes
point? If the latter is the case, is there is a closed. He does better with his eyes open. +41 (052) 232 03 83
way to speed up the stabilization of the He’s right handed but could only see “the Erika Meier-Schmid
Bonstetten
+41 (01) 700 10 38
optimal perception point? For example, at the cake” from the left. What does it mean that he
Verena Luisa Moser
moment there are a bunch of brain-training can only see the cake from one side? Will he be
computer programs available. Perhaps playing able to go through the next step in the book? Riken +41 (076) 346 93 34
Maya Muraro
Stäfa +41 (079) 704 03 07
them while keeping your orientation point My 9-year-old boy got so lost describing his
would be beneficial? “shark,” he couldn’t see a piece of cake. I
PAGE 18 THE DYSLEXIC READER

 Switzerland/CH (cont’d) Perceptual Ability Assessment because he


Christine Noiset did not understand that it had to do with
Renens/Lausanne
+41 (021) 634 35 10 or
helping him learn to read better. The Young
(079) 332 2775 Learner Kit would help you take a slower,
Véronique Pfeiffer
more relaxed approach with both your
Zürich +41 (01) 342 22 61 younger children.
Therese Rice-Schumacher
Uster / Zurich Suspects daughters are dyslexic
+41 (052) 267 5154
Hilary Rhodes
Q: I suspect that my daughters have dyslexia.
Chesieres-Villars
The fifth grader is good at math but struggles
+41 (024) 495 38 20 with reading and spelling. The third grader
Regine Roth-Gloor
Mohlin/Basel
struggles across the board in all academic
+41 (061) 851 2685 areas. She and I worked through the Davis
Doris Rubli-Huber Dyslexia Correction Orientation Procedures.
St. Gallen
+41 (071) 245 56 90
She really seemed to understand the whole
Benita Ruckli
activity, and could easily see her orientation
Sigigen +41 (041) 495 04 09 point. We have just begun to work with the
or (079) 719 31 18
thought we’d never get through the assessment.
Lotti Salivisberg This child is always “lost” somewhere. He’s clay alphabet. My fifth grader, didn’t really
Basel +41 (061) 263 33 44 a great artist, has beautiful handwriting, seem to get what we were doing at all. She
Sonja Sartor was willing to play along and tried her best,
Winterthur
understands math but can’t read. He also
+41 (052) 242 4015 wanted to keep his eyes open, and is right but it was clear that it wasn’t working as
Marianne Schutz well for her. Can I work through the symbol
Zofinger
handed but could only see the left. My
+41 (62) 752 8281
7-year-old daughter can’t see any mental mastery and reading exercises with both girls,
Andreas Villain pictures and is just learning to read three even though the older one didn’t seem to
Zürich +41 (076) 371 84 32 letter words. She seems to be fine, but benefit from the Orientation Counseling? Do
Catherine Warner
Geneva
can’t identify all the numbers through 10, all dyslexics need to get oriented in order to
+41 (022) 321 70 42 although we’ve done lots of practice for the benefit from the rest of the Davis Program?
Margit Zahnd
Gerolfingen
last two years. She doesn’t understand math A: If a Davis provider has a client who
+41 (079) 256 86 65 or
concepts at all. Will the math program work is unable to do the Perceptual Ability
(032) 396 19 20 for her even if she can’t see mental pictures? Assessment, the Facilitator will take that as
 United Arab Emirates an indication that it would be better to start
Linda Rademan
A: At the end of the perceptual ability
Dubai assessment you should know whether your with Davis Alignment, which is described
+9714 348 1687 child “gets” the concept of moving the in Ron Davis’ second book, The Gift of
 United Kingdom mind’s eye and seeing “from” the vantage Learning. I would suggest you try that with
Nicky Bennett-Baggs your fifth grader.
Gt. Gaddesden, Herts
point of the mind's eye. If the answer to that
+44 (01442) 252 517 is yes, then you can move on to Orientation
Sue Bullen Counseling. So, yes on your 11-year-old
Ayrshire, Scotland
+44 (01292) 591 797
daughter. The question for the 10-year-old
Sarah Dixon
boy is not whether he could view the cake
East Horsley, Surrey from both sides but whether he grasped the
+44 (01483) 283 088 concept of putting his mind’s eye on his
Susan Duguid
London
finger tip. If he wasn’t able to do that, you
+44 (020) 8878 9652
will want to do Alignment as described in
Dyslexia Correction Centre The Gift of Learning. (You will need that
Georgina Dunlop
Jane E.M. Heywood
book anyway if you want to work on math
DLS Mentor & Presenter and handwriting).
Ascot, Berkshire
+44 (01344) 622 115
Your 7-year-old is too young for the
Christine East
program described in the book. I recommend
Kingsbridge, Devon the Davis Young Learner Kit for Home Use
+44 (0) 8000 272657 (one kit can be shared–just buy some extra It will not hurt your older daughter in
Hilary Farmer
Oxford, Oxon
clay). While most children over age 8 are any way to do the clay modeling without the
+44 (01865) 326 464 ready for the dyslexia correction program, Orientation tools (Orientation or Alignment),
Nichola Farnum MA you may not to be able to get your highly- but it may not help either. Without the ability
London +44 (0) 8000 272657 to recognize and control disorientation, she
Jacqueline Ann Flisher
imaginative 9-year-old son’s attention long
Hungerford Berks
enough to do the regular program–unless he might enjoy doing the clay modeling, but she
+44 (0) 8000 272657 is motivated to learn to read. He may have may have difficulty retaining what she
gotten lost in his imagination during the learned. 
THE DYSLEXIC READER PAGE 19

The Beginning of the  United Kingdom (cont’d)


Maureen Florido
Harleston, Norfolk
End of Reading First +44 (0) 8000 272657
Carol Forster
Gloucester
Laura Zink de Díaz, Davis Facilitator in Bogotá, Colombia
+44 (1452) 331 573
Achsa Griffiths
For those of you who’ve always felt
Sandwich, Kent
there was a disturbing odor of snake-
oil in the unremitting use of the +44 (01304) 611 650
Axel Gudmundsson
London
phrase “scientifically-based reading
+44 (020) 8341-7703
research” by supporters of the No
Tessa Halliwell
Child Left Behind Act, you now have
confirmation that your sense Barrow upon Soar, Leics
of smell is just fine. +44 (01509) 412 695
Karen Hautz
London
In April of this year, the US Department
of Education released a report on Reading +44 (0207) 228-2947
First, the major ingredient in the NCLB Annemette Hoegh-Banks
Berkhamsted, Herts
+44 1442 872185
recipe for ensuring that all children read at
Catherine Hooper
grade level by the end of the third grade.
This comes almost a year after the Office of The Camborne
entrance to the US Department of
+44 (01209) 717 754
Education’s No Child Left Behind building.
the Inspector General (OIG) issued a report
Phyllida Howlett
Haverfordwest,
(May 2007) accusing several people central to DI and other reading programs favored by
to the development of Reading First of the directors of Reading First. Pembrokeshire
conflict of interest. Moving ahead, this year’s report is +44 (01437) 766 806
Angela James
Reading, Berkshire
In case you missed it, or have forgotten entitled Reading First Impact Study: Interim
the details, the OIG’s report revealed that Report, and is available for download on-line. +44 (0118) 947 6545
Liz Jolly


individuals with significant professional and or It’s 211 pages long, but its findings are
Fareham, Hants
+44 (01329) 235 420
financial connections succinctly expressed
Lisa Klooss
to some of the in the executive
The list of defects of Reading summary: London
+44 (0208) 960 9406
instructional materials
First would fill this entire issue. “On average, across the
Sara Kramer
favored by Reading
First directors were They start with the unproven 18 participating sites, London +44 (0) 8000 272657
involved in the grant assumption that phonemic estimated impacts on Marilyn Lane
approval process. For awareness, phonics, vocabulary, student reading com- Redhill +44 (0173) 776-9049
fluency, and comprehension are prehension test scores Isabel Martin
Crowborough East Sussex
example, at least three
individuals with ties to the “five essential components were not statistically +44 (0) 8000 272657
the Direct Instruction of reading instruction.” significant.” Stuart Parsons
Lowton/Warrington,
Cheshire
(DI) approach to This is the most
reading pedagogy were named to the peer damning of the findings. But there’s more: +44 (07754) 534 740
review panel, which evaluated state “On average, Reading First increased Fionna Pilgrim
Keighley, West Yorkshire
+44 (0) 8000 272657
applications for Reading First funding. instructional time spent on the five essential
Maxine Piper
According to the OIG report, the individuals components of reading instruction promoted
in question were involved in reviewing 23 by the program (phonemic awareness, phonics, Carterton, Oxon
state applications for Reading First grant vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension).” +44 (01993) 840 291
money and served on seven of the 16 So this stunning lack of impact was Elenica Nina Pitoska
subpanels that reviewed state applications. achieved not only by insisting that schools London +44 (0) 8000 272657
Rebecca Ross
Lamberhurst, Kent
One of them led five of the panels. use only the programs the Reading First
To make a long and sordid story short, directors recommended, but also by increasing +44 (0) 8000 272657
when the applications that states submitted instructional time. Reading First schools Pauline Royle
Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancs
+44 (0) 8000 272657
included other approaches to reading devote an extra 100 minutes per day to reading,
Ian Richardson
instruction, they were often denied, in some the equivalent of an extra six weeks each year.
Blaisdon Longhope, Glos
cases repeatedly, until they were re-written to It is virtually inconceivable that an extra 100
include use of Direct Instruction–a violation minutes per day could be devoted to reading +44 (0) 8000 272657
of a federal prohibition against endorsement instruction without obtaining any significant Rosemary Savinson
by the government of specific curricula. In impact, no matter what programs were in London +44 (0208) 316-1973
Janice Scholes
Liversedge, West Yorkshire
addition, it’s alleged that the subversion of the use! I suspect that school children could
panel’s work in this way made a lot of money spend that same amount of time reading and +44 (0) 8000 272657
for those panel members with financial ties (Cont’d next page)

PAGE 20 THE DYSLEXIC READER

 United Kingdom (cont’d)


end of third grade.” Since grade level is
Nigel Sharp
defined as the average of the scores of all
It is virtually inconceivable that
Isle of Wight students in a particular grade, it’s a Lake
+44 (0) 8000 272657 an extra 100 minutes per day
Woebegone-esque fantasy to expect all
Judith Shaw could be devoted to reading
Supervisor-Specialist
children to read “at grade level,” no matter
instruction without obtaining
St. Leonards on what grade you look at.
Sea/Hastings, East Sussex any significant impact.”
+44 (01424) 447 077
But these are topics for an entire volume
Elizabeth Shepherd
on the history of education reform in the
Crowborough, East Sussex
re-reading Captain Underpants to better United States. For now, I’m content to see
+44 (0189) 266-1052 effect than slogging through the direct that the truth about the snake oil is finally
Lynne Smith instruction drills imposed on them in most coming to light. 
Brighton, East Sussex
+44 (01273) 723 920
Reading First schools! Another finding:
Anna Stephens
“Average impacts on reading comprehension References & further Information
Ripley Derbyshire and classroom instruction did not change 1. Reading First Impact Study: Interim Report.
+44 (01773) 746 277
Drs. Renée van der Vloodt
systematically over time as sites gained Complete report available as downloadable PDF
Supervisor-Specialist
experience with Reading First.” document at:
Reigate, Surrey So, practice did not make perfect. And: http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/pubs/20084016/index.asp
+44 (01737) 240 116
Frank Walker
“Study sites that received their Reading First 2. Bracey, Gerald. “DIBELS Earns Bracey Rotten
Greasby Wirral/Liverpool
grants later in the federal funding process Apple Award” Available on-line at:
+44 (0151) 678 14 99 (January to August 2004) experienced positive http://susanohanian.org/anti-dibels/node/96
Evelyn White
Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
and statistically significant impacts both on 3. Garan, Elaine M. “Beyond the Smoke and
+44 (01932) 230 624 the time first and second grade teachers spent Mirrors: A Critique of the National Reading
The Learning People on the five essential components of reading Panel Report on Phonics.” Available on-line at:
Margarita Whitehead
DDA Director
instruction and on first and second grade www.pdkintl.org/kappan/k0103gar.htm
Richard Whitehead reading comprehension.” (executive summary, 4. Klein, Alyson. “House Panel Would Kill
DDA Director
DLS Presenter-Mentor
p. ix) “Reading First” Funding.” Education Week.
Fundamentals Presenter Essentially, the longer a school followed Available on-line at: http://tinyurl.com/3jekqq
Canterbury, Kent 5. Medige, Bernadette. “Nonsense Words that
+44 (01227) 738 972
Reading First guidelines, the worse their
Rachel Williamson
students performed on tests of reading Sent Your Kid to Summer School” Buffalo News,
Hassocks, West Sussex comprehension. August 11, 2007. Available on-line at: susanohan-
+44 (0) 8000 272657 As I was putting together this column, ian.org/show_nclb_outrages.html?id=3051
 United States more delicious news: June 21, 2008, Alyson
Alabama Klein, reported at edweek.org that Reading
Some Things
Lisa Spratt
Huntsville
First would be “eliminated under a fiscal 2009
+1 (256) 426-4066 spending measure approved unanimously Don’t Change ...
Arizona …by a House Appropriations subcommittee.”
Dr. Edith Fritz “Granting the care and
Phoenix
Representative David R. Obey, chairman of
+1 (602) 274-7738 the House Appropriations Committee, cited completeness with which the
Nancy Kress
method [was designed] ...
as the basis for this decision the results of the
Phoenix (phonics) must be pronounced
+1 (480) 544-5031
impact study and “mismanagement, conflicts intensely artificial and adult in
Arkansas
of interest, and cronyism, as documented by
Rebecca Landes
its conceptions, and destructive
Mulberry / Fort Smith
the inspector general.” Edmund of right habits of reading and
+1 (479) 997-1996
The list of defects of Reading First Huey of using language generally.
California
would fill this entire issue. They start with The phonic elements are made to precede the
Reading Research Council the unproven assumption that phonemic
Dyslexia Correction Center
word, the word is made to precede the idea,
Dr. Fatima Ali, Founder
awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and the sentence comes last of all, just the
Ray Davis and comprehension are the “five essential opposite of the natural procedure. Besides, to
Ronald D. Davis, Founder
Burlingame/San Francisco
components of reading instruction.” This burden the young pupil with the cumbersome
+1 (800) 729-8990 (Toll Free) recipe for reading came from the National technique of such a method and to so fill his
+1 (650) 692-8990 Reading Panel report of 2000, which mind with the dead products of adult analysis
Janet Confer
is a crime against childhood which cannot
Rancho Santa Margarita
concluded that phonics is the answer to the
long be suffered. Even if perfectly attained,
+1 (949) 589-6394 difficulties of all types of struggling readers. its ideal has not taught the child to read, and
Anette Fuller (The panel members came to this conclusion
Walnut Creek
is most likely to permanently unfit him for
+1 (925) 639-7846
by–surprise!– excluding from their review intelligent natural reading.”
Richard A. Harmel
any study that didn’t focus on phonics.) And –The Psychology and Pedagogy of Reading by
Marina Del Rey/Los Angeles then there’s the classic example of fuzzy
+1 (310) 823-8900
Edmund Huey, first published in 1908. p. 284
math buried in the goal of the program: that of the 1968 edition.
all children should “read at grade level by the
THE DYSLEXIC READER PAGE 21

 United States/
California (cont’d)
David Hirst
Riverside
+1 (951) 653-9251 or
(909) 241-6079
Angela Dean Educators
Nicole Melton
Karen Thorworth-Pongs
Diamond Bar
+1 (909) 861-5251
La Fidelidad de Uchi Cheryl Rodrigues
Sunnyvale / San Jose


+1 (408) 983-0968
Por Laura Zink de Díaz, Facilitadora Davis en Bogotá, Colombia
David Carlos Rosen
San Rafael
+1 (415) 479-1700
el cambio más importante…
Dwight Underhill
Lucía paulatinamente ha ido El Cerrito/Berkeley
haciéndose dueña de sí misma; ha +1 (510) 559-7869
ido mostrando mayor autonomía Dee Weldon White
Lexie White Strain
en todos los aspectos de la vida Menlo Park
cotidiana.” +1 (650) 388-6808
Colorado
Annie Garcia
requiere – clases de “phonics” en inglés con Wheat Ridge / Denver
una profesora privada. Lucía adora su cole- +1 (303) 423-3397
Crystal Punch
DLS Mentor
gio, pero en el colegio no entienden muy bien
Centennial/Denver
su estilo disléxico de aprendizaje... Cuando
Lucía en agosto 2007, durante su Programa pregunté a Lucía si las lecciones de “phonics” +1 (303) 850-0581
Kristi Thompson
DLS Presenter-Mentor
Davis. le estaban ayudando, admitió que en realidad
no, pero es algo que le obligan a hacer. Nadie Walsh
+1 (719) 324-9256
Hace un año tuve la buenísima suerte de
le obliga a asistir a Pizza y Plastilina, sin
Florida
trabajar con una niña muy querida, Lucía
Terry DeMeo
embargo viene cada mes. A estas alturas, la
Gutiérrez. Hizo muy bien su programa, con
verdad es que si no viniera, ¡la echaría mucho Miami
+1 (305) 567-0611
mucho entusiasmo, y cuando se fue, sentí esa
de menos!
Random (Randee)
eterna tristeza de profesora, la de ver irse tan
Garretson
Hace poco su mamá me mencionó que
buena alumna después de tan poco tiempo.
durante las vacaciones Lucía había leído Lutz/Tampa/St. Petersburg
+1 (813) 956-0502
Pero al mismo tiempo tenía la confianza de
independientemente un libro completo, ¡de
que a Lucía le iría muy bien. Durante muchos Tina Kirby
Navarre
176 páginas – y en inglés! ¡Qué chévere! Me
+1 (850) 218-5956
meses no volví a saber de la niña, lo que tomé
pareció que esto merecía una mención en The
Rita Von Bon
como indicio de que todo debía estar bien.
Dyslexic Reader, así que les pedí permiso a
Navarre
Hace pocos meses, habiendo trasladado
+1 (850) 934-1389
Lucía y sus padres. Estuvieron de acuerdo, y
mi consultorio a un sitio con suficiente
Georgia
a continuación la carta con sus comentarios.
Bonny Beuret
parqueo para varios clientes al mismo
Primero, de los padres:
tiempo, empecé a ofrecerles un servicio que Supervisor-Specialist
antes no podía: Pizza y Plastlina. Una vez al Apreciada Laura, Advanced Workshop
Presenter
Savannah
mes mis clientes pueden asistir a una sesión Luego de que Lucía, que hoy tiene 11 años,
en grupo. Durante la primera media hora hiciera el Método Davis hace un año, hemos +1 (912) 239 9339
notado cambios maravillosos en todos los Lesa Hall
Pooler/Savannah
comemos pizza y charlamos, y después
+1 (912) 330-8577
dedicamos una hora a la creación en plastilina aspectos y una prueba de esto es el testimonio
de modelos de palabras detonantes. El primer escrito por ella misma acerca del Método, que Martha Payne
mes, apareció Lucía – o Uchi, como la llaman es una producción escrita de buena calidad. Suwanee
+1 (404) 886-2720
Scott Timm
sus papás–y nadie más. El segundo mes de Antes del trabajo con los métodos Davis ella
Woodstock/Atlanta
nuevo asistió Lucía. El tercer mes, otra vez simplemente se hubiera negado a escribir
Lucía. ¡Qué niña más fiel!, pensé. cualquier cosa que no fuera obligada y en +1 (866) 255-9028 (Toll-Free)
Lucía es una joven muy inteligente y es caso de lograr cualquier producción escrita, Hawaii
Vickie Kozuki-Ah You
Ewa Beach/Honolulu
excelente conversadora. Hemos conversado su calidad hubiera sido muy inferior tanto en
varias veces de su colegio bilingüe (inglés/ contenido como en redacción y ortografía. +1 (808) 664-9608
español), y de sus amigas y actividades. Para ella ha sido fundamental aprender Idaho
Carma Sutherland
Rexburg
Inclusive hemos charlado de la situación a manejar su talento; no solamente ha tenido
política aquí en Colombia. Y también hemos una mejoría académica significativa, sino +1 (208) 356-3944
hablado de cierta intervención que su colegio que ha aprendido a disfrutar la lectura. En

PAGE 22 THE DYSLEXIC READER

Illinois
Kim Ainis
Chicago No solamente ha tenido una
+1 (312) 360-0805 mejoría académica significativa,
Susan Smarjesse sino que ha aprendido a disfrutar
Springfield
+1 (217) 789-7323
la lectura.”
Indiana
Jodi R. Baugh
podemos decir que es una niña feliz, segura
Cloverdale/Indianapolis de sí misma, cooperadora y responsable que
+1 (765) 526-2121
Myrna Burkholder
ya no se da por vencida fácilmente, por lo
Goshen/South Bend cual estamos seguros que con el trabajo
+1 (574) 533-7455 constante, irá logrando mejorar en este
Carol K. Williams
Jeffersonville
aspecto y en todos aquellos en los que ella
+1 (651) 324-9156
se lo proponga.
Iowa Con todo nuestro afecto y gratitud,
Mary Kay Frasier
Des Moines
Juan Manuel Gutiérrez y Catalina Soto
+1 (515) 270-0280
Uchi, poniendo los últimos toques a un modelo
Pronto Lucía hará un suplemento a su
Kentucky
que hizo en la sesión de Pizza y Plastilina en
Programa Davis que seguramente le ayudará a
Rochelle Abner
julio, 2008.
Winchester
arreglar esas “dificultades para organizarse.”
+1 (859) 595-7870 estas vacaciones leyó por primera vez, En el e-mail al que iba adjunto su
Massachussetts completamente sola, un libro en inglés testimonio, los padres de Lucía comentaron
Karen LoGiudice
Newburyport
apropiado para su edad y nivel de escolaridad. que al escribirlo cayeron en cuenta que sin
+1 (978) 337-7753 Y… ¡lo disfruto! Fue una experiencia tan el ejercicio de mirar cómo era su hija un año
Carolyn Tyler positiva que nos pidió ir a una librería a antes de tomar el Método y cómo es ahora,
Fairhaven
+1 (508) 994-4577
comprar otro libro para leer en vacaciones tal vez no hubieran sido concientes de toda la
pero ahora en español. Ella escogió un libro mejoría, porque los cambios son paulatinos,
Michigan
Nicki Cates
titulado El niño con el pijama de rayas escrito y a diario son poco perceptibles. Me parece
Saint Clair Shores/Detroit por John Boyne. Es de 217 páginas, para niños una observación muy válida e importante para
+1 (586) 801-0772 a partir de 13 años y se lo está leyendo feliz. personas que consideran un Programa Davis
Sandra McPhall
Grandville/Grand Rapids
Además de todos estos cambios tan para sus hijos. El proceso de internalizar las
+1 (616) 534-1385 significativos, tanto en el ámbito académico herramientas Davis toma tiempo, igual como
Dean Schalow
Manistee
como en la lectura y escritura recreativas, el toma tiempo internalizar las destrezas
+1 (800) 794-3060 (Toll-Free)
cambio más importante para nosotros como necesarias para volverse uno experto en
Michele Wellman papas ha sido observar cómo Lucía cualquier actividad intelectual o deportivo.
Mt. Pleasant/Lansing
+1 (989) 772-3084
paulatinamente ha ido haciéndose dueña de Aquí no ofrecemos píldoras mágicas, pero sí
Minnesota
sí misma; ha ido mostrando mayor autonomía entregamos a nuestros clientes herramientas
Cyndi Deneson en todos los aspectos de la vida cotidiana. que con el tiempo pueden crear cambios
Supervisor-Specialist
Workshop Presenter
Aunque Lucía continúa teniendo positivos bastante dramáticos. ¡Sobre todo
Edina/Minneapolis
dificultades para organizarse, ahora en personas con la fidelidad de Uchi! 
+1 (888) 890-5380 (Toll-Free)
+1 (952) 820-4673
Bernadette Peterson
Maple Grove
Los comentarios de Lucía,
+1 (763) 229-4550 respecto al libro que leyó leyendo.
Alice J. Pratt y el Método Davis: Pero cuando me
Excelsior/Minneapolis
+1 (904) 389-9251
pasaba que no entendía
Yo estudio en el Colegio los Nogales.
Missouri
o que me confundía una
Cathy Cook
Es muy bueno y yo me divierto palabra, pensaba que
Columbia mucho. En mi colegio aprendo
+1 (573) 819-6010
con Laura podría trabajar
or 886-8917
muchas cosas pero también la paso estas palabras detonantes
Gretchen FitzGerald
muy bien, y en estas vacaciones y efectivamente descubrí
Kansas City me pusieron a leer un libro en
+1 (816) 806-8611
que el Método Davis en
inglés que se llama Shredderman
Montana
realidad sí funciona.
Kimberly Bezanson
Attack of the Tagger. Este libro me Además es divertido hacer
Missoula gustó mucho porque es interesante,
+1 (406) 541-3076
cosas con plastilina. Me
or 677-4014
descriptivo y uno no puede parar de gusta mucho el Método
Elsie Johnson
leer ya que el libro tiene tanto suspenso Davis.
Manhatten y por eso uno cada vez quiere seguir
+1 (406) 257-8556
–Lucía Gutiérrez
THE DYSLEXIC READER PAGE 23

Nebraska
Shawn Carlson
Young Learner Kit Lincoln
+1 (402) 420-1025
Elaine Thoendel
Chambers
for Home-Use +1 (402) 482-5709
Nevada
Barbara Clark
Gardnerville/Carson City
Based on the Davis Dyslexia +1 (775) 265-1188
New Hampshire
Glenna Giveans
Correction methods, this Kit
Lebanon
+ 1 (603) 863-7877
enables parents of children, ages
Michele Siegmann
5-7, to home-teach and help young
learners to: Mason/Manchester/Boston
+1 (603) 878-6006
New Jersey
• focus attention
Lynn Chigounis
• control energy levels
Montclair
+1 (973) 746-5037
• improve eye-hand coordination

Charlotte Foster
• learn the alphabet
• learn basic punctuation Supervisor-Specialist
Bernardsville/Newark
+1 (908) 766-5399
• develop and strengthen pre-reading

New York
and basic reading skills
• prevent the potential of a learning Lisa Anderson
Seneca Falls
+1 (315)568-3166
problem
• improve sight word recognition and or (800) 234-6922
comprehension The Kit includes: Hadar Hellman
Forest Hills
+1 (212) 781-3689
• establish life-long “how-to-learn” skills. • Instruction Manual
Wendy Ritchie
Hilton/Rochester
The Davis Methods • Sturdy nylon briefcase
for Young Learners • Reusable modeling clay (2 lbs.) +1 (585) 233-4364
• Clay cutter North Carolina
Gerri W. Cox
DLS Presenter-Mentor
Davis Focusing Strategies provide • Webster’s Children’s Dictionary
children with the self-directed ability to (hardcover) Shallotte/Wilmington
be physically and mentally focused on the +1 (910) 754-9559
• Punctuation Marks & Styles Booklet
Ruth Mills
Pineville/Charlotte
learning task at hand. • Two Koosh Balls
• Letter Recognition Cards +1 (704) 541-1733
Davis Symbol Mastery enables children to
Jean Moser
Winston-Salem
master the alphabet letters, punctuation • Laminated Alphabet Strip
marks and basic sight words with a simple, • Stop Signs for Reading Chart +1 (336) 830-2390
Ohio
Lorraine Charbonneau
easy and fun alternative to pencil-paper
activities and drill. Mason/Cincinnati/Dayton
+1 (513) 850-1895
Lisa Thatcher
Davis Reading Exercises improve
Mount Vernon/Columbus
+1 (740) 397-7060
accuracy with word recognition and

Oklahoma
comprehension.
Ashley Grice
Tulsa
+1 (918) 779-7351
The Kit is priced at $119.95
Rhonda Lacy
(Shipping and Handling will be added)
Clinton
+1 (580) 323-7323
To purchase a kit, use our secure on-line
Oregon
ordering at:
www.dyslexia.com/bookstore Rhonda Erstrom
Vale
or call our toll-free number: +1 (541) 881-7817
1-888-999-3324 Kathy Pozzi
Ontario
+1 (541) 881 6497
The Young Learner Kit
Note: For older children (ages 8 and up), we
Melissa Slominski
Tigard / Portland
recommend the Davis Symbol Mastery Kit.
+1 (503) 957-2998
PAGE 24 THE DYSLEXIC READER

Pennsylvania Newly Licensed Davis Facilitators


Maude Le Roux
Glen Mills
+1 (484) 840-1529 Congratulations to all the newest members of our growing
Marcia Maust international community of Davis Program Providers!
Berlin/Pittsburgh
+1 (814) 267-5765
Rhode Island Marja Steijger “I’m the would have believed it. My
Linda M. Daniels
Providence
mother of two dyslexic girls. children came into my life and
+1 (401) 301-7604
While searching for a solution along with them, school
South Carolina to their problems, I read De problems. Eventually I found
Angela Keifer Gave van Dyslexie. I am a Davis Dyslexia Correction and
Greenville
+1 (864) 420-1627
picture thinker myself, so I on the top of everything else,
South Dakota
knew this was the solution. discovered my own talent. And
Kim Carson I decided I wanted to help other kids too, so here I am as a brand new Davis Facilitator! Allow
DLS Presenter-Mentor
Brookings/Sioux Falls
I changed my profession from veterinarian to me to introduce myself: I’m Jutta Meissner, 42,
+1 (605) 692-1785
Davis Facilitator.” Coen Boshuizenlaan 85, married, with three children, and looking forward
Carina Little 1911 TC Ouderkerk a/d Amstel, Netherlands to my new challenge!” Stuttgart, BW 70469
Watertown
+1 (605) 886-8415
+31 (020) 496 52 53, marjasteijger@chello.nl Germany, +49 (711) 882 21 06,

Lillian “Lee” Miles


j.meissner@mac.com
Jola Geldermans “Dear
Sioux Falls
+1 (605) 274-2294
Colleagues, I am Jola Manja Bloemendal “I have
Tennessee
Geldermans, Dutch, 46 years worked as a social worker and
Jackie Black young. I am very happy to have teacher (primary school and
Dover
1-866-218-1614 (Toll-Free)
found the Davis Method. I am a continuation school). I am now

Texas
Linguist (English and Spanish) working as a Davis Facilitator
Kellie Antrim-Brown
and have studied psychology. with children and adults who
Ft. Worth I’ve worked a lot with children have dyslexia, dysgraphia and
+1 (817) 989-0783 AD/HD difficulties. I am also very interested in
Janalee Beals
(as a teacher in primary and secondary schools)
Bedford/Dallas/Ft. Worth
and hope to get my diploma for remedial teaching the relationship between children and their parents
+1 (817) 354-2896 (Master SEN) this summer. I’ve studied a lot, but and how the parents support their children in the
Success Learning Center I must say that Davis has taught me most of all. process of the Davis Program.” Banazir, van
Rhonda Clemons
DLS Presenter-Mentor
The Davis Method has shown me the essence of Blankenburgstraat 28, 2517 XR Den Haag,
Colleen Millslagle learning. With this method I can help others feel Netherlands, +31 (64) 764 6555, +31 (70) 345 5252,
DLS Presenter-Mentor
Tyler/Dallas
confident and make the best of their talents.” manja.bloemendal@gmail.com
+1 (866) 531-2446 (Toll Free)
Strick van Linschotenstraat 69, 1943 KB,
+1 (903) 531-2446
Cristina Maria Vieira graduated in 2001 in
Beverwijk, Netherlands, +31 (0251) 210 607,
Shari Chu
Special Education and rehabilitation (School of
bakker2034@zonnet.nl
Helotes /San Antonio
Human Motor Function, Portugal) with a Masters
+1 (210) 414-0116 Josephine Naikuni “I am a Degree in early intervention and developmental
Jodie Harber
Cedar Park/Austin
teacher by profession, married disorders (University of Santiago de Compostela,
+1 (512) 918-9247
with four children. Training to be Spain). Since then she has worked with children
Lori Johnson
a Davis Facilitator was a great and adolescents with learning disabilities, dyslexia
Boerne/San Antonio achievement. The results and and developmental disorders. Cristina currently
+1 (210) 843-8161 works at Fundacão Renascer and is developing a
Leslie McLean
confidence gained by my clients
Amarillo
are simply amazing.” 00501, PO doctoral thesis on assessment of the development
+1 (806) 331-4099 or Box 19002, Nairobi, Kenya. +254 (20) 604 347, of children. Fundacão Renascer, Rua Infante D.
+1 (877) 331-4099 (Toll Free) +254 722 341 503, Josna88@gmail.com Pedro, No.12A, Lisboa 1700-243, Portugal,
Amanda Meyer
Burleson/Ft. Worth
+35 (191) 921 4807, rubianes21@hotmail.com
Therese Rice-Schumacher
+1 (817) 426-4442 “I deliver Davis Dyslexia Carly van den Akker “In
Dorothy Owen
Supervisor-Specialist
Correction Programs at home, my center I will help children
Irving +1 (817) 919-6200
in German, Spanish or French.” and adults with their learning
Paula Roberts Inselstr. 26, CH-8610, Uster, problems, especially reading
Tyler +1 (903) 570-3427 Switzerland. Second business and mathematics. I am a teacher
Casey Linwick-Rouzer
Sugar Land/Houston
address: Freiestr.14, CH-8032, by profession. In the Davis
+1 (832) 724-0492 Zurich, Switzerland. Method I’ve found the real root of dyslexia. It is
Laura Warren +41 (052) 267 51 54, thereserice@bluewin.ch an enormous thrill to work as a Davis Facilitator.”
Lubbock
+1 (806) 790-7292
Gounodhof 6, 5481 PA Schijndel, Netherlands,
Jutta Meissner “My whole life I always knew
Virginia
+31 (06) 15 20 81 73, wiedes@orange.nl
that when I reached 40, I would find my profession.
Donna Kouri
Montpelier/Richmond
If someone had told me two years ago, that at
+1 (804) 883-8867 some time I would help dyslexic people, I never
THE DYSLEXIC READER PAGE 25

 United States/
Virginia (cont’d)
Davis Training Programs Angela Odom
DLS Presenter-Mentor
Midlothian/Richmond
+1 (804) 833-8858
Jamie Worley
Yorktown/Williamsburg
+1 (757) 867-1164
Washington
Aleta Clark
Auburn/Tacoma
+1 (253) 854-9377
Carol Hern
DLS Presenter-Mentor
Spokane
Mary Ethel Kellogg
DLS Presenter-Mentor
Spokane
Rebecca Luera
Fall City/Seattle
+1 (800) 818-9056 (Toll-Free)
+1 (425) 222-4163
Nancy Sitton
The Davis Facilitator Training Davis Learning Strategies Mentors Marysville
+1 (360) 651-1241
Renie Royce Smith
Program requires approximately 400 and Workshop Presenters are
Spokane & Everett
hours of course work. experienced teachers and trainers with
+1-800-371-6028 (Toll-Free)
+1 (509) 443-1737
The Davis Specialist Training 2-3 years of specialized training and
Ruth Ann Youngberg
Program requires extensive experience experience mentoring classroom
teachers of children 5- 9 years of age. Bellingham
+1 (360) 752-5723
providing Davis programs and an
additional 260 hours of training. For information about training and a West Virginia
Gale Long
Elkview/Charleston
Specialists and Facilitators are subject to full directory of Davis providers, go to:
annual re-licensing based upon case www.dyslexia.com/providers.htm +1 (888) 517-7830 (Toll Free)
review and adherence to the DDAI +1 (304) 965-7400
Wisconsin
or call +1 (650) 692-7141 or
New Hope Learning
Standards of Practice. +1-888-805-7216 toll-free in the USA.
Centers, Inc.
Darlene Bishop
Margaret Hayes
Milwaukee
+1 (888) 890-5380 (Toll Free)
+1 (262) 255-3900
Anne Mataczynski
Wausau
+1 (715) 551-7144
 Uruguay
Marcela Piffaretti
Montevideo
+598 (02) 600-6326

This Directory is current as of


August 1, 2008. It is subject to
change. Between newsletter
issues, new Facilitators are
added, and occasionally, some
become inactive. However,
the Davis Providers list at
www.dyslexia.com is
always up to date.
PAGE 26 THE DYSLEXIC READER

Basic Workshop for


Primary Teachers
Teachers, would you like to… “In the forefront of what I liked
• Improve the reading skills of all the children in your most was how easily the Davis
class regardless of their learning style? strategies fit into many areas
• Manage your classroom more effectively? of Kindergarten curriculum. It
• Prevent the onset of learning disabilities? relieved me of a paper-pencil
• Use research-based methods that are flexible and easily approach and gave me a hands-on,
fit into and enhance any existing curriculum? kinesthetic approach. It helped
develop the little finger muscles
This two-day workshop provides Primary Teachers (K-3) to move on to coordinate
with unique and innovative strategies for improving paper-pencil activities. Creating
reading instruction and classroom management, and equips the alphabet over time also
young learners with proven life long skills in “how to learn.” accomplished the development
Instruction includes: of ownership, responsibility, and
• Theory and Reasoning for each Strategy. a sense a pride in all the children. I believe all
• Video demonstrations of each Strategy and classroom Kindergarten children would benefit from Davis
Learning Strategies.”
implementation suggestions.
• Supervised experiential practice on each Strategy. –LB, Kindergarten Teacher, Mission San Jose
Elementary School, Fremont, California
• Q&A and discussion about each Strategy.
Materials include:
• Detailed Manual with suggested year-long guides, black-line
masters, and numerous tips for each implementing each
Strategy in various curriculum activities.
• Videotape or DVD demonstrating each classroom Strategy.
• Teacher Kit: alphabet strip, letter recognition cards, clay,
cutter, dictionary and two Koosh® balls. (Classroom
materials sold separately)

2008 DATES & LOCATIONS


Date Location Telephone
United States
Aug. 5 - 6 Brookings, SD 1-605-692-1785
Aug. 7 - 8 Denver, CO 1-719-324-9256
Aug. 7 – 8 Brookings SD 1-605-692-1785
Aug. 14 - 15 Eugene, OR 1-866-531-2446
Sept. 25 - 26 Springfield, MA 1-866-531-2446
Oct. 2 - 3 Tyler, TX 1-866-531-2446
Workshop hours: 9am-4pm with one hour lunch break.
Oct. 6 - 7 Richmond, VA 1-804-833-8858
Cost: $595 per person (US only)
Nov. 6 - 7 Tyler, TX 1-866-531-2446
Academic Units or CEUs (US and Canada only) Nederland
Two Quarter Units are available through California State Sept. 5 - 6 Maastricht/Sittard +31 (046) 437 4907
University. Cost is $54 per unit, plus $35 administrative fee. Oct. 10 - 11 Onna (Steenwijk) +31 (046) 437 4907
A written assignment, which can be completed before and
Switzerland
during the workshop, is required.
Aug 7 - 8 Zurich +41 (061) 273 81 85
Would you like to bring a DLS Nov 8 - 9 Zurich +41 (061) 273 81 85
workshop to your school/area?
Call 1-888-805-7216, and ask for Paula McCarthy. For more details, visit www.davislearn.com
THE DYSLEXIC READER PAGE 27

Come Learn and


EXPERIENCE the Davis
Dyslexia Correction
Procedures!
Fundamentals of Davis Dyslexia Correction®
Workshop based on the best-selling book
The Gift of Dyslexia by Ronald D. Davis
FUNDAMENTALS WORKSHOP OUTLINE
DAY ONE DAY THREE
Background and Development of the Davis Dyslexia Orientation Review Procedure
Correction® Procedures (a method for checking orientation skills)
• Research and discovery. The “gifts” of dyslexia. Anatomy • Demonstration & Practice Session
and developmental stages of a learning disability. Davis Symbol Mastery® (the key to correcting dyslexia)
Overview of the steps for dyslexia correction. • What is Symbol Mastery? Why clay?
Davis Perceptual Ability Assessment Mastering Basic Language Symbols
(a screening for dyslexic learning styles) • Demonstrations and Group Exercises
• Demonstration and Practice Session Reading Improvement Exercises
Symptoms Profile Interview (used to assess symptoms, • Spell-Reading. Sweep-Sweep-Spell. Picture-at-
strengths and weaknesses; set goals; establish motivation) Punctuation
• Demonstration and Practice Session
DAY TWO DAY FOUR
Davis Orientation Counseling Procedures (methods to Fine-Tuning Procedure (checking and adjusting
control, monitor and turn off perceptual distortions) orientation using balance)
• What is Orientation? Demonstration & Practice Session Symbol Mastery Exercises for Words
Release Procedure (method to alleviate stress, headaches) • Demonstrations
Alignment (an alternative to Orientation Counseling) • Group Exercises
• What is Alignment? How is it used? Group Demonstration • Practice Sessions
Dial-Setting Procedure (a method for controlling energy Implementing the Davis Procedures
levels)
To register for US workshops call 1-888-805-7216 (toll-free)
2008 FUNDAMENTALS WORKSHOP SCHEDULE

GERMANY NEW ZEALAND


2-5 October: Hamburg 7-10 September: Christchurch
Presenter: Ioannis Tzivanakis Presenter: Lorna Tims
Language: German/French Language: English
Email: info@dyslexia.de Email: info@ddapacific.co.nz
Tel: +49 (040) 25 17 86 22 Telephone: +64 9 815 8626

MEXICO UNITED KINGDOM


24-27 September: Guadalajara 18-22 August: Canterbury, Kent
Presenter: Cathy Calderón Presenter: Richard Whitehead
Language: Spanish Language: English
Email: davislatam@gmail.com Email: info@davislearningfoundation.org.uk
Tel: +52 (81) 8335-9435 Tel: +44 (0) 1227 732 288

NEDERLAND UNITED STATES


3-6 September: Amersfoort
8-11 October: Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX
Presenter: Ioannis Tzivanakis/Robin Temple
Presenter: Gerry Grant
Language: English/Dutch
Language: English
Email: nederland@dyslexia.com
Email: training@dyslexia.com
Tel: +31 (0475) 301 277
Tel: 1-888-392-1134 or 1-888-805-7216

For updated workshop schedules visit: www.dyslexia.com/train.htm


The ~
Dys•lex´•ic Read´•er PRESORTED
STANDARD
1601 Old Bayshore Highway, Suite 260 U.S. POSTAGE
Burlingame, CA 94010 PAID
BURLINGAME, CA
PERMIT NO.14
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Fundamentals of Davis Dyslexia Correction Workshop


Based on the best-selling book
The Gift of Dyslexia by Ronald D. Davis 2008 International Schedule
This 4-day workshop is an introduction to the basic theories, 18 - 22 Aug. Canterbury, Kent UK
principles and application of all the procedures described in
3 - 6 Sept. Amersfoort Nederland
The Gift of Dyslexia. Training is done with a combination of
lectures, demonstrations, group practice, and question and 7 - 10 Sept. Christchurch New Zealand
answer sessions. Attendance is limited to ensure the highest 24 - 27 Sept. Guadalajara Mexico
quality of training.
2 - 5 Oct. Hamburg Germany
Who should attend:
8 - 11 Oct. Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX USA
Everyone involved in helping dyslexic individuals over the
age of eight. U.S. Course Schedule
Participants will learn: • 8:30 - 9:00 Registration (first day)
• How the Davis procedures were developed. • 9:00 - 5:00 Daily (lunch break 12:00-1:30)
• How to assess for the “gift of dyslexia.” U.S. Fees and Discounts
• How to help dyslexics eliminate mistakes and focus attention. • $1175 per person
• The Davis Symbol Mastery tools for mastering reading. • $1125 for DDAI members or groups of two or more
• How to incorporate and use proven methods for improving • $1075 if paid in full 60 days in advance
reading, spelling, and motor coordination into a teaching, • Advance registration and $200 deposit required
home school, tutoring, or therapeutic setting. • Includes manual, one-year DDAI membership,
verification of attendance, and Symbol Mastery Kit
See page 27 for more workshop details. • Academic units and CEUs available

For a detailed brochure on enrollment, prices, group rates, discounts, location, and further information, contact the DDA in your country.
DDA-Pacific DDA-DACH DDA- Latin America DDA-UK
PO BOX 46023 Deutschland-Austria- Calzada del Valle #400 Local 8 Davis Learning Foundation
Herne Bay Switzerland Colonia del Valle PO Box 972
Auckland, New Zealand Wandsbecker Chausee 132 Garza García, Monterrey Canterbury
Phone: +64 (09) 815-8626 D-22089 Hamburg Nuevo León Kent CT1 9DN
Fax: +64 (09) 815-8627 GERMANY MÉXICO, CP 66220 Tel: +44 (0)1227 732 288
E-mail: pacific@dyslexia.com Tel: 49 (040) 25 17 86 22 Tel: 52 (81) 8335-9435 Fax: +44 (0)1227 731 756
Fax: 49 (040) 25 17 86 24 Email: spanish@dyslexia.com E-mail: uk@dyslexia.com
DDA-Israel
20 Ha’shahafim St. E-mail: germany@dyslexia.com DDA-Nederland DDAI-Int’l, Canada & USA
Ra’anana 43724 ISRAEL SWITZERLAND Kerkweg 38a 1601 Bayshore Highway, Ste 260
Tel: 972 (0523) 693 384 Tel: 41 (061) 273 81 85 6105 CG Maria Hoop, NEDERLAND Burlingame, CA 94010
or (0)9 774 7979 E-MAIL: ch@dyslexia.com Tel: 31 (0475) 302 203 Tel: 1-888-805-7216
Fax: 972 (09) 772-9889 Fax: 31 (0475) 301 381 Fax: 1 (650) 692-7075
E-mail: Israel@dyslexia.com E-mail: holland@dyslexia.com E-mail: ddai@dyslexia.com

Enrollment limited ❖ Classes fill Early ❖ Call 1-888-805-7216 or 650-692-7141


For updated workshop schedules visit http://www.dyslexia.com/train.htm
For a full description of the Davis Facilitator Certification Program, ask forContinued on page 22
our booklet.

S-ar putea să vă placă și